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Gape vs Scowl - What's the difference?

gape | scowl |

In lang=en terms the difference between gape and scowl

is that gape is to open wide; to display a gap while scowl is to express by a scowl.

As verbs the difference between gape and scowl

is that gape is to open the mouth wide, especially involuntarily, as in a yawn, anger, or surprise while scowl is to wrinkle the brows, as in frowning or displeasure; to put on a frowning look; to look sour, sullen, severe, or angry.

As nouns the difference between gape and scowl

is that gape is (uncommon) an act of gaping; a yawn while scowl is the wrinkling of the brows or face in frowning; the expression of displeasure, sullenness, or discontent in the countenance; an angry frown.

gape

English

Verb

(gap)
  • To open the mouth wide, especially involuntarily, as in a yawn, anger, or surprise.
  • * 1723 , , The Journal of a Modern Lady'', 1810, Samuel Johnson, ''The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper , Volume 11, page 467,
    • She stretches, gapes , unglues her eyes, / And asks if it be time to rise;
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=9 citation , passage=Eustace gaped at him in amazement. When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.}}
  • To stare in wonder.
  • To open wide; to display a gap.
  • * '', Act 1, Scene 1, 1807, Samuel Johnson, George Steevens (editors),''The plays of William Shakspeare , Volume X, page 291,
    • May that ground gape , and swallow me alive, / Where I shall kneel to him who slew my father!
  • * 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 74:
    • "Nor is he deterr'd from the belief of the perpetual flying of the Manucodiata, by the gaping of the feathers of her wings, (which seem thereby less fit to sustain her body) but further makes the narration probable by what he has observed in Kites hovering in the Aire, as he saith, for a whole hour together without any flapping of their wings or changing place."
  • * , Cato Major, Of Old Age: A Poem , 1710, page 25,
    • The hungry grave for her due tribute gapes :

    Noun

  • (uncommon) An act of gaping; a yawn.
    • (Addison)
  • A large opening.
  • (uncountable) A disease in poultry caused by gapeworm in the windpipe, a symptom of which is frequent gaping.
  • The width of an opening.
  • (zoology) The maximum opening of the mouth (of a bird, fish, etc.) when it is open.

    • Derived terms

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    scowl

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The wrinkling of the brows or face in frowning; the expression of displeasure, sullenness, or discontent in the countenance; an angry frown.
  • Hence, gloom; dark or threatening aspect.

    • Derived terms

    * (l), (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To wrinkle the brows, as in frowning or displeasure; to put on a frowning look; to look sour, sullen, severe, or angry.
  • * Spenser
    • She scowled and frowned with froward countenance.
  • (by extension) To look gloomy, dark, or threatening; to lower.
  • * Thomson
    • The scowling heavens.
  • To look at or repel with a scowl or a frown.
    • to scowl a rival into submission
  • To express by a scowl.
    • to scowl defiance

    Anagrams

    *