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Definition of gulp verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

gulp

verb
 
/ɡʌlp/
 
/ɡʌlp/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they gulp
 
/ɡʌlp/
 
/ɡʌlp/
he / she / it gulps
 
/ɡʌlps/
 
/ɡʌlps/
past simple gulped
 
/ɡʌlpt/
 
/ɡʌlpt/
past participle gulped
 
/ɡʌlpt/
 
/ɡʌlpt/
-ing form gulping
 
/ˈɡʌlpɪŋ/
 
/ˈɡʌlpɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
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  1. [transitive] gulp something (down) to swallow large amounts of food or drink quickly
    • He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out.
    Topics Drinksc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • greedily
    • quickly
    • noisily
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive] to swallow, but without eating or drinking something, especially because of a strong emotion such as fear or surprise
    • She gulped nervously before trying to answer.
    • ‘Do you know where she is?’ asked Chris. The man gulped nervously and nodded.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • nervously
    phrases
    • gulp for air
    • gulp for breath
    See full entry
  3. [intransitive, transitive] to breathe quickly and deeply, because you need more air
    • gulp (for something) She came up gulping for air.
    • Keith swam to the surface and gulped for air.
    • gulp something (in) He leant against the car, gulping in the cold air.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • nervously
    phrases
    • gulp for air
    • gulp for breath
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: probably from Middle Dutch gulpen, of imitative origin.
See gulp in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
elaborate
adjective
 
 
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