different between flinch vs gasp

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fl?nt?/
• Rhymes: -?nt?

Etymology 1

From Middle French flenchir (“to bend”), of Germanic origin. Compare Middle High German lenken (“to bend”). Attested in English since the 16th century.

Noun

flinch (plural flinches)

1. A reflexive jerking away.

   My eye doctor hates the flinch I have every time he tries to get near my eyes.

2. (croquet) The slipping of the foot from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

Translations

See also

• (reflexive jerking away): cringe

Verb

flinch (third-person singular simple present flinches, present participle flinching, simple past and past participle flinched)

1. (intransitive) To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus; to cringe.
   • 1693 John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education:

     A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.

2. To dodge (a question), to avoid an unpleasant task or duty
3. (croquet) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

Translations

References

• “flinch” in the Collins English Dictionary
• “flinch”, in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary, (Please provide a date or year).

Etymology 2

Verb

flinch (third-person singular simple present flinches, present participle flinching, simple past and past participle flinched)

1. Alternative form of flense

References

• “flinch” in the Collins English Dictionary

English

Etymology

From Middle English gaspen, gayspen (“to gape, outbreathe”), related to and likely derived from Old Norse geispa (“to yawn”) or its descendant Danish gispe, which may be related to gapa (“to gape”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???sp/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?æsp/
• Rhymes: -æsp

Verb

gasp (third-person singular simple present gasps, present participle gasping, simple past and past participle gasped)

1. (intransitive) To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock.

2. (intransitive) To breathe laboriously or convulsively.

   We were all gasping when we reached the summit.

   • c. 1761-1764, Robert Lloyd, An Epistle to C. Churchill, Author of the Rosicad

     She gasps and struggles hard for life.

3. (transitive) To speak in a breathless manner.

4. To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire.

   • Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain.

Translations

Noun

gasp (plural gasps)

1. A short, sudden intake of breath.

2. (Britain, slang): A draw or drag on a cigarette (or gasper).

Derived terms

• last gasp

Translations

Interjection

gasp

1. (humorous) The sound of a gasp.

   Gasp! What will happen next?

References

Anagrams

• A-GPS, AGPs, GPAs, PASG, SPAG, gaps, spag

Westrobothnian

Noun

gasp n

1. loud talking, joking, fun

Related terms