From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgulpgulp1 /ɡʌlp/ verb 1 (also gulp down) [transitive]DRINK to swallow large quantities of food or drink quickly SYN bolt She gulped down her breakfast and ran for the bus.2 [intransitive]SURPRISED to swallow suddenly because you are surprised or nervous I gulped when I saw the bill.3 (also gulp in) [transitive]DRINK to breathe in large amounts of air quickly We rushed outside and gulped in the sweet fresh air.4 → be gulping for air → gulp something ↔ back→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
gulp• Mandy read the test questions and gulped.• The nine-member group gulped, almost in unison.• Moray eels squirm right to the water's edge and greedily gulp down the feast.• Then the fox tossed his head and gulped down the Gingerbread Man.• The first he gulped down; the second, savored.• The springer spaniels, who gulp down what the children leave, will probably outlive next door's parrot.• She gulped for breath, her eyes only inches from his.• Steve swam up to the surface and gulped in air.• It seemed to parch his mouth as he gulped it down.• He seemed to gulp the air before speaking, like the fish his complexion called to her mind.gulpgulp2 noun [countable] 1 DRINKa large amount of something that you swallow quickly, or the action of swallowinggulp of He took a huge gulp of brandy.in one gulp/at a gulp Charlie drank the whisky in one gulp.2 a large amount of air that you breathe in quickly gulps of fresh airExamples from the Corpus
gulp• He lifted his glass to his lips, draining it at a gulp.• He was eating a mess of pottage and taking deep gulps of wine from a large ornamental cup.• Finally he took a desperate gulp of air, then another, then broke into an enormous sob.• She was breathing in great gulps, but still there wasn't enough air.• I downed it in one gulp.• So Unwired created a software language to display text in short gulps.• No black striped bill had we seen, or slurring gulps heard.took ... gulp• Peach shuddered, and took a gulp of her milk.• She took the double whisky he offered her and greedily took a gulp.• He always laughed noiselessly, his jaw snapping up and down as he took in great gulps of air.• Finally he took a desperate gulp of air, then another, then broke into an enormous sob.• He took a gulp and handed his cup to her.• Helen took a gulp of tea, and felt herself begin to rally.• I took a grateful gulp of the champagne and looked round.• Turning was in the air and Taylor, as usual, took great heaving gulps of it.Origin gulp1 (1400-1500) Probably from Middle Dutch gulpen “to swallow” 