Definition

1. Noun:

   • A deep, narrow valley with steep, rocky sides, often with a stream or river flowing through it: A "gorge" is a natural feature, typically smaller than a canyon but larger than a ravine.
   • A narrow pass between mountains or hills: This meaning emphasizes the constricted passageway itself.
   • The contents of the stomach; what has been eaten (archaic): An old-fashioned use, often related to feelings of disgust or nausea.
   • The throat or gullet (archaic): An old-fashioned term for the passage from the mouth to the stomach.

2. Verb:

   • To eat greedily and to excess: To consume a large amount of food very quickly and often without restraint.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The hikers descended into the deep gorge to see the waterfall.
  • The ancient road wound through a narrow mountain gorge.
  • (Archaic) The sight of the spoiled food turned his gorge. (Meaning: It made him feel sick/nauseous.)

• Verb:

  • After the marathon, he gorged himself on pizza and pasta.
  • The bears gorge on salmon when the fish are running.

Advanced Usage

• "to make one's gorge rise": To cause intense disgust or revulsion.

  • The cruelty described in the report made her gorge rise.

• "to gorge oneself on/with something": To eat a very large amount of a particular food.

  • The children gorged themselves on Halloween candy.

Variants and Related Words

• Gorgeous (adj): Extremely beautiful or attractive. (Etymology: Originally meant "elegant, fashionable," from the idea of something fit for a gorge, i.e., fine clothing.)
• Engorge (verb): To swell or fill with fluid, often blood.
  • The tick engorged itself on blood.
• Disgorge (verb): To pour or eject something out.
  • The volcano disgorged a river of lava.
  • The bus disgorged its passengers.

Synonyms

• Noun (for valley): Ravine, canyon, chasm, defile, gulch.
• Verb (for eating): Devour, wolf down, guzzle, binge, stuff oneself.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Gorge on: This is the standard construction for the verb.
  • They gorged on snacks during the movie.

Related Idioms

• "My gorge rises at it": A formal or literary way to say "It disgusts me."
  • The very thought of such injustice makes my gorge rise.

Noun

1. the passage between the pharynx and the stomach
2. a narrow pass (especially one between mountains)
3. a deep ravine (usually with a river running through it)

Verb

1. overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
   • She stuffed herself at the dinner
   • The kids binged on ice cream