gapping

A type of ellipsis that occurs in the non-initial conjuncts of coordinate structures, and usually elides minimally a finite verb and further any non-finite verbs that are present. Example: "Some ate bread, and others rice."

Noun

  1. A type of ellipsis that occurs in the non-initial conjuncts of coordinate structures, and usually elides minimally a finite verb and further any non-finite verbs that are present. Example: "Some ate bread, and others rice."
  2. The formation of a gap.
    • The suture must be firm enough to prevent gapping when the elasticity of the elastic layer has been in play for some time. - 1919, Studies from the Dept. of Anatomy, volume 7, page 505:
    • This test should then be repeated at 30° of knee flexion. The degree of injury can be graded based upon the amount of gapping felt as the joint opens under stress. - 2012, Vicente Sanchis-Alfonso, Joan Carles Monllau,...

Forms

gappings

Derived

pseudogapping

Verb

  1. present participle and gerund of gap