Definition

1. Noun:

   • A large and hurried swallow of a liquid: A quick intake of a drink, often in one continuous motion.
   • A spasmodic reflex of the throat: An involuntary, convulsive movement in the throat, similar to swallowing, often caused by surprise, fear, or strong emotion.

2. Verb:

   • To swallow hurriedly, greedily, or in one draught: To consume a drink or food quickly and eagerly.
   • To utter or make a noise, as when swallowing too quickly or gasping for air: To make a choking or gasping sound, often due to shock, difficulty breathing, or trying to speak while overwhelmed.

Examples

• Noun:

  • He drank the entire glass of water in one gulp.
  • A gulp of surprise escaped her when she saw the result.

• Verb:

  • She gulped her coffee and ran out the door.
  • He was gulping for air after the long run.

Advanced Usage

• "To gulp back": To suppress or try to control an emotion, often tears or sobs.

  • She gulped back her tears during the sad movie.

• "To gulp down": To swallow something, especially a drink, very quickly and completely.

  • The athlete gulped down a bottle of water after the race.

Variants and Related Words

• Gulper (n): A person or thing that gulps.

  • He's a fast gulper when he's thirsty.

• Gulping (adj/n): Describing the action of gulping.

  • She finished with a gulping sound.

Synonyms

• Swallow: To cause food or drink to pass from the mouth to the stomach.
• Draught: A single act of drinking or inhaling.
• Guzzle: To eat or drink greedily.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Gulp down: To swallow something quickly and completely.

  • He gulped down his meal in five minutes.

• Gulp in: To inhale or take in air quickly, often due to surprise or awe.

  • She gulped in the fresh mountain air.

Related Idioms

• A lump in one's throat: A feeling of tightness or emotion that makes it hard to swallow or speak (related to the physical sensation of gulping).

  • The speech gave me a lump in my throat.

• Swallow one's pride: To accept something humiliating (conceptually related to the act of gulping down something difficult).

  • He had to swallow his pride and apologize.

Noun

1. a spasmodic reflex of the throat made as if in swallowing
2. a large and hurried swallow
   • he finished it at a single gulp

Verb

1. utter or make a noise, as when swallowing too quickly
   • He gulped for help after choking on a big piece of meat
2. to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
   • The men gulped down their beers