gap

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Nature, Geography

gap /ɡæp/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable]  1  a space 间隔SPACE/GAP a space between two objects or two parts of an object, especially because something is missing 缺口，开口，豁口gap in The neighbors’ dog got in through a gap in the hedge. 邻居的狗从树篱的缺口钻了进来。 a gap in the traffic 车流中的一个空档gap between the gap between the two rows of seats 两排座位之间的间隔► see thesaurus at hole →4  See picture of 见图 HOLE →5 see picture at 见图 hole12  difference 差别DIFFERENT a big difference between two situations, amounts, groups of people etc 〔大的〕差距，差额，差别 → gulfgap between the widening gap between the rich and the poor 越来越大的贫富差距 → generation gap3  STH missing 缺少的东西COMPLETE something missing that stops something else from being good or complete 空白，缺漏gap in There are huge gaps in my knowledge of history. 我的历史知识有很大的欠缺。 Frank’s death has left a big gap in my life. 弗兰克的去世给我的生活留下一大片空白。fill/plug the gap He filled the gap left by Hirst’s retirement. 赫斯特退休后，他填补了空缺。4  in time 在时间上HAPPEN a period of time when nothing is happening, that exists between two other periods of time when something is happening 时间间隙，时间间隔gap in an awkward gap in the conversation 谈话中间一次令人尴尬的冷场gap between The gaps between his visits got longer and longer. 他探望的时间隔得越来越长了。 → gap year5. in a mountain 在山中DNSG a low place between two higher parts of a mountain 山口6. gap in the market BBMa product or service that does not exist, so that there is an opportunity to develop that product or service and sell it 市场空白 COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: a big difference between two situations, amounts, groups of people etc 〔大的〕差距，差额，差别ADJECTIVES/NOUN + gapa big/large/wide gap 很大的差距There’s a big gap between the two test scores. 两次测验成绩之间差距很大。na huge/substantial etc gapA huge gap exists between the life styles of the rich and the poor.a narrow gap 很小的差距There’s only a narrow gap between the two candidates in the polls. 两位候选人在民意测验中仅有微小的差距。a yawning gap (=a very big difference) 巨大的差距nThere’s a yawning gap between the earnings of men and women.a growing/widening gap 不断加大的差距nThere is a widening gap in the academic performance of boys and girls.nan unbridgeable gap (=a gap that cannot be closed)He felt that there was an unbridgeable gap between the negotiating positions of the two sides.a trade gap (=the difference between the amount a country imports and exports) 贸易差额nBritain’s trade gap almost doubled last month.nthe gender gap (=the difference between men and women)The gender gap was visible in the way men and women voted during the presidential elections.the generation gap (=the difference in attitudes, tastes etc between older and younger people) 代沟nTaste in music is a good indicator of the generation gap.an age gap (=a difference in age between two people) 年龄差距nDespite the age gap, they became good friends.na cultural gap (=a difference between cultures)There is a cultural gap between Europe and America on this subject.verbsbridge/close/narrow the gap (=reduce the amount or importance of a difference) 缩小差距The book aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice. 本书旨在架起理论与实践间的桥梁。nThe policies are designed to close the gap between rich and poor.the gap narrows 差距缩小Polls show the gap between the two candidates has narrowed. 民意测验显示两名候选人之间的差距缩小了。widen the gap 扩大差距nTechnology has widened the gap between people with and without computer skills.the gap widens 差距增大nThe gap is widening between the incomes of the rich and the less well-off.na gap existsA cultural gap exists between the older and the younger generations.

Examples from the Corpus

gap• Sharon has a gap between her two front teeth.• The gate was locked but we managed to get through a gap in the fence.• Freddie managed to squeeze through a gap in the fence and run away.• The age gap between us didn't seem to matter until we decided to have children.• It ain't a door or nothing - it's just a big gap in the wall.• Melianthus is a good plant for filling in gaps in flower borders.• Short gaps are thus more probable than long ones.• The new interest in growth is sure to widen that gap.• These activities bridge the gap in comprehension and familiarity that the interface creates.• Later, electrically powered calculators and analog computers bridged the gap to the first primitive digital computers.• The greater the amount of planning control, the greater did the gap become.• Melanie's dentist says that as she gets older the gap between her two front teeth will disappear.• The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country.• The light was coming through a tiny gap under the door.• an uncomfortable gap in the conversation• There's a ten-year gap between Kay's two children.gap in• There are huge gaps in my knowledge of history.• There was an 18 minute gap in the tape recordings.• Inner-city hospitals are being crippled by a serious gap in medical technology.fill/plug the gap• Kaufman said the Chargers' defensive front did a good job of penetrating the backfield and filling the gaps in the line.• Such sources of learning help fill the gaps for employees in the new leaner organization who have fewer co-workers in their field.• Will my right hon. Friend agree to talk to the museum to ascertain whether he can guide it in filling the gap?• A growing proportion of companies now expect to hire workers from abroad to fill the gaps.• This has allowed short term seated events to fill the gaps in the programme between major exhibitions.• Sales of gold from central banks were needed to fill the gap, Gold Fields said.• To fill the gap he roared with laughter at his own witty fashion of dealing with ethics.• Right-back Andy Hill is ruled out by a stomach strain and veteran Ray Ranson will fill the gap.nThe GapGap, The trademark  na US clothes company with stores all over the world. The Gap sells informal clothes for men, women, and children, which are fashionable but not very expensive.From Longman Business Dictionarygapgap /gæp/ noun [countable]1gap in the marketMARKETING an opportunity to develop and sell a particular product or service because no other company is doing this yetThe sales director believes there is a gap in the market for small jets.The mail-order company is aiming to fill the gap in the market with a range of swimwear for older people.2ECONOMICSa difference between two situations, amounts, groups of people etcBrazil had a trade gap (=difference in value of what a country buys from abroad and what it sells) of $3.16 billion last year.gap betweenthe gap between the earnings of manual and non-manual workers → wage gap3COMMERCEMARKETINGsomething that is missing that stops something else from being completegap inThe computer manufacturer is trying to fill a gap in its product line by buying an Atlanta software firm for $65 million.Origin gap (1300-1400) Old Norse “hole, deep narrow valley”

gap noun →COLLOCATIONS1Gap, TheLDOCE OnlineChinese  

between objects Corpus Business space two or a

Gap
Gap, The trademark
a US clothes company with stores all over the world. The Gap sells informal clothes for men, women, and children, which are fashionable but not very expensive.

gap
gap S2 W2 /ɡæp/ noun [countable]1.  A SPACE a space between two objects or two parts of an object, especially because something is missing
    gap in
    The neighbors’ dog got in through a gap in the hedge.
    a gap in the traffic
    gap between
    the gap between the two rows of seats
2.  DIFFERENCE a big difference between two situations, amounts, groups of people etc ⇨ gulf
    gap between
    the widening gap between the rich and the poor ⇨ generation gap
3.  SOMETHING MISSING something missing that stops something else from being good or complete
    gap in
    There are huge gaps in my knowledge of history.
    Frank’s death has left a big gap in my life.
    fill/plug the gap
    He filled the gap left by Hirst’s retirement.
4.  IN TIME a period of time when nothing is happening, that exists between two other periods of time when something is happening
    gap in
    an awkward gap in the conversation
    gap between
    The gaps between his visits got longer and longer. ⇨ gap year
5.  IN A MOUNTAIN a low place between two higher parts of a mountain
6. gap in the market a product or service that does not exist, so that there is an opportunity to develop that product or service and sell it
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 2)

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + gap
   ▪ a big/large/wide gap There’s a big gap between the two test scores.
   ▪ a huge/substantial etc gap A huge gap exists between the life styles of the rich and the poor.
   ▪ a narrow gap There’s only a narrow gap between the two candidates in the polls.
   ▪ a yawning gap (=a very big difference) There’s a yawning gap between the earnings of men and women.
   ▪ a growing/widening gap There is a widening gap in the academic performance of boys and girls.
   ▪ an unbridgeable gap (=a gap that cannot be closed) He felt that there was an unbridgeable gap between the negotiating positions of the two sides.
   ▪ a trade gap (=the difference between the amount a country imports and exports) Britain’s trade gap almost doubled last month.
   ▪ the gender gap (=the difference between men and women) The gender gap was visible in the way men and women voted during the presidential elections.
   ▪ the generation gap (=the difference in attitudes, tastes etc between older and younger people) Taste in music is a good indicator of the generation gap.
   ▪ an age gap (=a difference in age between two people) Despite the age gap, they became good friends.
   ▪ a cultural gap (=a difference between cultures) There is a cultural gap between Europe and America on this subject.
■ verbs
   ▪ bridge/close/narrow the gap (=reduce the amount or importance of a difference) The book aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice. | The policies are designed to close the gap between rich and poor.
   ▪ the gap narrows Polls show the gap between the two candidates has narrowed.
   ▪ widen the gap Technology has widened the gap between people with and without computer skills.
   ▪ the gap widens The gap is widening between the incomes of the rich and the less well-off.
   ▪ a gap exists A cultural gap exists between the older and the younger generations.

🔑 gapBrE /ɡæp/ 🔊NAmE /ɡæp/ 🔊 noun~ (in/between sth) 🔑 a space between two things or in the middle of sth, especially because there is a part missing 开口；豁口；缺口；裂口◆a gap in a hedge树篱的豁口◆Leave a gap between your car and the next. 在车与车之间留条道。🔊🔊🔑 a period of time when sth stops, or between two events 间断；间隔；间隙◆a gap in the conversation谈话的间隙◆They met again after a gap of twenty years. 他们阔别二十年后又见面了。🔊🔊◆There's a big age gap between them (= a big difference in their ages).他们之间年龄差距很大。🔑 a difference that separates people, or their opinions, situation, etc. 分歧；隔阂；差距◆the gap between rich and poor贫富之间的差距◆the gap between theory and practice理论与实践的脱节  ➡  see also credibility, generation gap 🔑 a space where sth is missing 缺口；空白；漏洞◆His death left an enormous gap in my life. 他去世给我的生活留下巨大的空白。🔊🔊◆There were several gaps in my education. 我受的教育有几个欠缺之处。🔊🔊◆We think we've identified a gap in the market (= a business opportunity to make or sell sth that is not yet available). 我们认为已经发现了市场上一个尚待填补的空白。🔊🔊●bridge the ˈgap/ˈgulf/diˈvide (between A and B)to reduce or get rid of the differences that exist between two things or groups of people 消除（甲、乙间的）隔阂／鸿沟／分歧