Dictionary:

yawning

  (yô'nĭng)

Gaping open; cavernous: a yawning abyss.

adjective

Open wide: abysmal, abyssal, cavernous, gaping. See wide/narrow.

A deep, involuntary inspiration with the mouth open, often accompanied by the act of stretching. Repeated yawning in the presence of other signs, may accompany signs of chronic abdominal pain or hepatic disease.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth; usually triggered by fatigue or boredom
  Synonyms: yawn, oscitance, oscitancy

The adjective yawning has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something

Meaning #2: with the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness

Meaning #3: showing lack of attention or boredom
  Synonyms: drowsy, oscitant

Yawning
Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Stephanoberyciformes Family: Melamphaidae Genus: Poromitra Species: P. oscitans
Binomial name
Poromitra oscitans Ebeling, 1975

The yawning, Poromitra oscitans, is a fish of the genus Poromitra, found in tropical and subtropical waters of the indo-Pacific region, at depths of from 800 to 5000 metres. Their length is from 7 to 10 centimetres.

The yawning is a small deep-water bathypelagic species, similar to Melamphaes microps but with a higher back, which gives it a more substantial look, and much smaller eyes and larger mouth.

The colour is dark brown or black.

References

• Poromitra oscitans (TSN 649668). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 18 April 2006.
• "Poromitra oscitans". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
• Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)