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Gasp vs Surprise - What's the difference?

gasp | surprise |

In intransitive terms the difference between gasp and surprise

is that gasp is to breathe laboriously or convulsively while surprise is to cause surprise.

In transitive terms the difference between gasp and surprise

is that gasp is to speak in a breathless manner while surprise is to take unawares.

As an interjection gasp

is The sound of a gasp.

As an adjective surprise is

unexpected.

gasp

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A short, sudden intake of breath.
    • The audience gave a gasp of astonishment
  • (British, slang): A draw or drag on a cigarette (or gasper).
    • I'm popping out for a gasp .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock.
    • The audience gasped as the magician disappeared.
  • To breathe laboriously or convulsively.
    • We were all gasping when we reached the summit.
  • * Lloyd
    • She gasps and struggles hard for life.
  • To speak in a breathless manner.
    • The old man gasped his last few words.
  • To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire.
    • I'm gasping for a cup of tea.
  • * Spenser
    • Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain.

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (humorous)
    • Gasp ! What will happen next?

    References

    Anagrams

    * *

    surprise

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (qualifier)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something not expected.
  • * 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Rickie Lambert’s debut goal gives England victory over Scotland'' (in ''The Guardian , 14 August 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/14/england-scotland-international-friendly]
    • They had begun brightly but the opening goal was such a blow to their confidence it almost came as a surprise when Walcott, running through the inside-right channel, beat the offside trap and, checking back on to his left foot, turned a low shot beyond Allan McGregor in the Scotland goal.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=September 7, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Moldova 0-5 England , passage=England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.}}
  • (attributive) Unexpected.
  • The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=20 citation , passage=The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen.
  • (obsolete) A dish covered with a crust of raised pastry, but with no other contents.
    • (King)

    Synonyms

    * unexpected * (feeling) astonishment

    Derived terms

    * take by surprise

    Verb

    (surpris)
  • To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted.
    • It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.
  • To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.
    • He doesn’t know that I’m in the country – I thought I’d turn up at his house and surprise him.
  • To undergo or witness something unexpected.
    • He doesn’t surprise easily.
  • To cause surprise.
  • To attack unexpectedly.
  • To take unawares.

    • Adjective

    (-)
  • Unexpected.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=4 citation , passage=“I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn’t I??? Why didn’t I telephone??? Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. …”}} 1000 English basic words ----