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gaper

gaper

1 7.5
A person who stares with their mouth open in surprise or curiosity
  • noun
  • /ˈɡeɪpər/
translation icon : bocazas
  • I was scanning the gaper's article to double-check it, hit upon the fourth paragraph, and accidentally switched it.

Examples

  • Maybe when you finally lean in for a kiss you'd tear a big gaper through spacetime and really mess things up.

    Blog text (10)
  • The children stood as gapers, mouths open in awe, watching the magician perform his tricks.

  • I can't believe I know what a gaper is.

  • Anyone who supports this ski link is a complete gaper at skiing and life.

    Blog text (8)
  • After reading the Gaper's Block.

    Blog text (21)
  • You're in the middle of a gaper's block.

  • It's called gaper, yes?

  • As the fireworks lit up the sky, the crowd became a sea of gapers, all staring with their mouths agape.

  • During the parade, many gapers lined the streets, surprised by the colorful floats passing by.

Synonyms

gawker
vsgaper
  • Informal
7 7.6

A person who stares openly and rudely at something unusual

is curious or surprised rather than rude or foolish
gazer
vsgaper
2 4.0

A person who looks at something for a long time with interest or wonder

shows visible surprise with an open mouth rather than quiet wonder
starer
vsgaper
1 6.7

A person who looks at someone for a long time in an unfriendly way

shows curiosity or surprise rather than hostile or unfriendly looking

How Amazed

gaper
1 7.5
rubbernecker
  • Informal
1 8.6
gawker
  • Informal
7 7.6
onlooker
24 3.2
observer
305 2.8

Surface Forms

gaper singular
gapers plural

Morphology

gaper = gap (transparent) = gap + er

The word 'gaper' is transparently derived from the verb 'gap' with the addition of the agentive suffix '-er'.

Etymology

Gaper comes from the simple verb gape, which means 'to open the mouth' and is like gap, meaning an 'open space'. So a gaper is someone who stares with their mouth open, which is why we use it for people who stop and stare.