gulp

/gəlp/

/gəlp/

Other forms: gulped; gulping; gulps

To gulp is to loudly and quickly swallow food, drink, or air. You might gulp nervously before you stand up to make a speech.

When you gulp down your breakfast so you can run and catch your bus, or gulp air upon rising to the surface of a swimming pool, you can say you take a gulp — or many gulps. The word dates from the 1300s, but its origin is somewhat uncertain. Most experts link it to the imitative Dutch gulpen, "to gush, guzzle, or swallow."

Definitions of gulp

1. verb

   utter or make a noise, as when swallowing too quickly
   “He gulped for help after choking on a big piece of meat”

   type of:

   mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize

   express in speech
2. verb

   to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
   synonyms: quaff, swig

   type of:

   drink, imbibe

   take in liquids
3. noun

   a large and hurried swallow
   “he finished it at a single gulp”

   synonyms: draft, draught, swig

   type of:

   deglutition, drink, swallow

   the act of swallowing
4. noun

   a spasmodic reflex of the throat made as if in swallowing
   synonyms: gulping

   type of:

   inborn reflex, innate reflex, instinctive reflex, physiological reaction, reflex, reflex action, reflex response, unconditioned reflex

   an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus