early 14c., "an opening in a wall or hedge; a break, a breach," mid-13c. in place names, from Old Norse gap "chasm, empty space," related to gapa "to gape, open the mouth wide," common Proto-Germanic (cognates: Middle Dutch, Dutch gapen, German gaffen "to gape, stare," Swedish gapa, Danish gabe), from PIE *ghai- "to yawn, gape" (see yawn (v.)). From late 14c. as "a break or opening between mountains;" broader sense "unfilled space or interval, any hiatus or interruption" is from c. 1600. In U.S., common in place names in reference to a deep break or pass in a long mountain chain (especially one that water flows through), a feature in the middle Appalachians.
gap (v.)
1847, "to make gaps" (transitive); 1948 "to have gaps" (intransitive), from gap (n.). Related: Gapped; gapping.
实用例句
1. Like a good businessman, Stewart identified a gap in the market.
像精明的商人一样，斯图尔特发现了市场上的一个空白。
来自柯林斯例句
2. By 1973, this gap had narrowed almost to vanishing point.
到1973年，这一差距已缩小到几乎为零。
来自柯林斯例句
3. There is a credibility gap developing between employers and employees.
雇主和雇员之间出现了信任危机。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Britain needs to bridge the technology gap between academia and industry.
英国需要弥合学术界和企业界之间的技术差距。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Leave a gap at the top and bottom so air can circulate.
