verb (used without object)
- to breathe hard and quickly, as after exertion.
- to gasp, as for air.
- to long with breathless or intense eagerness; yearn: to pant for revenge.
- to throb or heave violently or rapidly; palpitate.
- to emit steam or the like in loud puffs.
- Nautical. (of the bow or stern of a ship) to work with the shock of contact with a succession of waves.Compare work(def 24).
verb (used with object)
- to breathe or utter gaspingly.
noun
- the act of panting.
- a short, quick, labored effort at breathing; gasp.
- a puff, as of an engine.
- a throb or heave, as of the breast.
verb
- to breathe with noisy deep gasps, as when out of breath from exertion or excitement
- to say (something) while breathing thus
- (intr often foll by for) to have a frantic desire (for); yearn
- (intr) to pulsate; throb rapidly
noun
- the act or an instance of panting
- a short deep gasping noise; puff
v.mid-15c., perhaps a shortening of Old French pantaisier “gasp, puff, pant, be out of breath, be in distress” (12c.), probably from Vulgar Latin *pantasiare “be oppressed with a nightmare, struggle for breathing during a nightmare,” literally “to have visions,” from Greek phantasioun “have or form images, subject to hallucinations,” from phantasia “appearance, image, fantasy” (see phantasm). Related: Panted; panting. n.“a gasping breath,” c.1500, from pant (v.). v.
- To breathe rapidly and shallowly.