gapping

gap  (gp)

n.

1.

a. An opening in a solid structure or surface; a cleft or breach: wriggled through a gap in the fence; a large gap in the wall where the artillery shell had exploded.

b. A break in a line of defense.

2. An opening through mountains; a pass.

3. A space between objects or points; an aperture: a gap between his front teeth.

4. An interruption of continuity: a nine-minute gap in the recorded conversation; needed to fill in the gaps in her knowledge.

5.

a. A conspicuous difference or imbalance; a disparity: a gap between revenue and spending; the widening gap between rich and poor.

b. A problematic situation resulting from such a disparity: the budget gap; the technology gap.

6. A spark gap.

7. Computer Science An absence of information on a recording medium, often used to signal the end of a segment of information.

8. Electronics The distance between the head of a recording device and the surface of the recording medium.

v. gapped, gap·ping, gaps

v.tr.

To make an opening in.

v.intr.

To be or become open.

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[Middle English, from Old Norse, chasm.]

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gapping [ˈgæpɪŋ]

n

1. (Linguistics / Grammar) (in transformational grammar) a rule that deletes repetitions of a verb, as in the sentence Bill voted for Smith, Sam for McKay, and Dave for Harris

2. (Social Science / Education) the act or practice of taking a gap year