gapgap /ɡæp/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable] 
The neighbors’ dog got in through a gap in the hedge. a gap in the trafficgap between the gap between the two rows of seats► see thesaurus at hole2difference a big difference between two situations, amounts, groups of people etcgap between the widening gap between the rich and the poor → generation gap3something missing something missing that stops something else from being good or completegap 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.4in time a period of time when nothing is happening, that exists between two other periods of time when something is happeninggap in an awkward gap in the conversationgap between The gaps between his visits got longer and longer. → gap year5in a mountain a low place between two higher parts of a mountain6gap 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 itCOLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + gapa 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.verbsbridge/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.
WORD ORIGINgap
Origin:
1300-1400 Old Norse ‘hole, deep narrow valley’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an uncomfortable gap in the conversation
- Freddie managed to squeeze through a gap in the fence and run away.
- Melanie's dentist says that as she gets older the gap between her two front teeth will disappear.
- Melianthus is a good plant for filling in gaps in flower borders.
- Sharon has a gap between her two front teeth.
- The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country.
- The age gap between us didn't seem to matter until we decided to have children.
- The gate was locked but we managed to get through a gap in the fence.
- The light was coming through a tiny gap under the door.
- There's a ten-year gap between Kay's two children.
- It ain't a door or nothing - it's just a big gap in the wall.
- Later, electrically powered calculators and analog computers bridged the gap to the first primitive digital computers.
- Short gaps are thus more probable than long ones.
- The greater the amount of planning control, the greater did the gap become.
- The new interest in growth is sure to widen that gap.
- These activities bridge the gap in comprehension and familiarity that the interface creates.
THESAURUS
an empty space in the surface of something, which sometimes goes all the way through it: · A fox had dug a hole under our fence.· Rain was coming in through a hole in the roof.
an empty area between two things, into which you can put something: · Are there any empty spaces on the bookshelf?· a parking space
an empty area between two things or two parts of something, especially one that should not be there: · He has a gap between his two front teeth.· I squeezed through a gap in the hedge.
a hole that something can pass through or that you can see through, especially at the entrance of something: · The train disappeared into the dark opening of the tunnel.· I looked through the narrow opening in the wall.
a small hole where something has been damaged or broken that lets liquid or gas flow in or out: · a leak in the pipe· The plumber’s coming to repair the leak.
especially British English a small hole in a tyre through which air escapes: · My bike’s got a puncture.
a very narrow space between two things or two parts of something: · The snake slid into a crack in the rock.· She was peering through the crack in the curtains.
a straight narrow hole that you put a particular type of object into: · You have to put a coin in the slot before you dial the number.· A small disk fits into a slot in the camera.
a round hole in the ground made by an explosion or by a large object hitting it hard: · a volcanic crater· The meteor left a crater over five miles wide.· the craters on the Moon
a detail, fact, or quality that makes one person or thing different from another: · We should think about the similarities between cultures, not the differences.difference between: · Try and spot the differences between these two pictures.· The difference between the two cheeses is that one is made from goat’s milk.difference in: · I don’t think there’s any difference in the way you pronounce these two words.know the difference: · He’s speaking Italian, not Spanish. Don’t you know the difference?
a very clear difference that you can easily see when you compare two things or people: contrast between something/somebody and something/somebody: · What surprised me was the contrast between Picasso’s early style and his later work.
a big difference between two amounts, two ages, or two groups of people: gap between: · There’s a ten-year gap between Kay’s two children.· The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country.age/gender/income etc gap: · The age gap between us didn’t seem to matter until we decided to have children.
a very big difference and lack of understanding between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life: gulf between somebody and somebody: · More riots led to a growing gulf between the police and the communities in which they worked.bridge/cross the gulf (=improve understanding and communication): · The central problem was how to bridge the gulf between the warring factions of the party.
formal a big difference between two groups of people or things – use this especially when you think the difference is unfair or may cause problems: disparity between: · It is not easy to explain the disparity that still exists between the salaries of men and women.disparity in: · the disparity in wealth between the highest and the lowest employeesthe economic/income etc disparity: · The economic disparity between the area’s black and white citizens is a serious problem.
Longman Language Activatorthe difference between two people or things the amount by which one person, thing, or amount is different from another: difference between: · Calculate the difference between the amount you started with and what you have left.a big/huge etc difference: · There is a vast difference between daytime and night-time temperatures in the desert.difference in: · There was fifteen years difference in age between the two women.age/height/price etc difference (=between one amount and another): · I prefer the Peugeot 406 to the 405. What's the price difference?pay the difference: · If you put all your savings towards the cost of a bike, your Dad and I will pay the difference.
a very clear difference that you can easily see when you compare two things or people: contrast between something/somebody and something/somebody: · What surprised me was the contrast between Picasso's early style and his later work.
a big difference between two amounts, two ages, or two groups of people: gap between: · There's a ten-year gap between Kay's two children.· The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country.age/gender/income etc gap: · The age gap between us didn't seem to matter until we decided to have children.
a very big difference and lack of understanding between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life: gulf between somebody and somebody: · More riots led to a growing gulf between the police and the communities in which they worked.bridge/cross the gulf (=improve understanding and communication): · The central problem was how to bridge the gulf between the warring factions of the party.
a difference between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life which means they will never be friends, become the same etc: divide between: · Recently the divide between the two sides has widened.a cultural/political etc divide: · There is still a great economic and political divide between the east and the west of the country.
formal a big difference between two groups of people or things - use this especially when you think the difference is unfair or may cause problems: disparity between: · It is not easy to explain the disparity that still exists between the salaries of men and women.disparity in: · the disparity in wealth between the highest and the lowest employeesthe economic/income etc disparity: · The economic disparity between the area's black and white citizens is a serious problem.
a hole that goes through something · The sheet was ancient and full of holes.· She stuck her finger through the hole.hole in · Troy looked through a hole in the fence at the garden next door.· A shaft of light came in through a hole in the corrugated iron roof.something has a hole in it · I can't wear my green shirt -- it has a hole in it.gaping hole (=a big hole) · They stared at the gaping hole in the wall.
an empty space in the middle of something such as a wall or fence, especially because part of it is missing or broken: gap in: · The gate was locked but we managed to get through a gap in the fence.gap under: · The light was coming through a tiny gap under the door.gap between: · Sharon has a gap between her two front teeth.
a hole that something can pass through or that you can see through, especially one which is at the entrance or top of something: · Bees come and go through a small opening at the bottom of the hive.· We zipped up the opening of the tent to stop the mosquitoes getting in.
a hole, especially one that allows light to pass through - use this especially in scientific and technical contexts: · The telescope has an aperture of 2.4 metres.
a space between two things · Plant cells contain liquid in spaces called vacuoles.space between · The children hid in the space between the wall and the sofa.· The space between the old building and the Morgan mansion has been converted into a marble-paved court, with plantings and a fountain.
a space between two objects or surfaces from which there is something missing: gap in: · Freddie managed to squeeze through a gap in the fence and run away.gap between: · Melanie's dentist says that as she gets older the gap between her two front teeth will disappear.fill/fill in a gap: · Melianthus is a good plant for filling in gaps in flower borders.
a space through which something can pass or through which you can see: · Now there is just a gap where the buildings used to stand.opening in: · "It's only Fred,'' said Joyce, looking through an opening in the curtains.· The dog darted through an opening in the hedge, chasing a rabbit.
WORD SETSabyss, nounalluvial, adjectivealluvium, nounalpine, adjectiveAmerican, adjectiveAntarctica, anticyclone, nounarchipelago, nounArctic, adjectivearid, adjectiveAsia, atlas, nounatoll, nounAustralasia, Australasian, adjectiveAustralia, avalanche, nounaxis, nounbank, nounbarometer, nounbarrier reef, nounbasin, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbearing, nounbed, nounbight, nounbluff, nounborder, nounborder, verbborderland, nounborderline, nounborough, nounbox canyon, nounBritish, adjectivebutte, nouncanyon, nouncape, nouncapital, nouncardinal point, nounCaribbean, adjectivecartography, nouncay, nounchain, nounchaparral, nounchart, nounchasm, nounchimney, nounChinese, adjectivecirrus, nounCIS, nouncliff, nounclimate, nounclimatic, adjectivecoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncockney, nouncol, nouncold front, nouncommuter belt, nouncompass, nounconfluence, nouncontinent, nouncontinental, adjectivecontinental shelf, nouncontour, nounconurbation, nouncoordinate, nouncorridor, nouncorrie, nouncoterminous, adjectivecouncil estate, nouncountry, nouncounty, nouncounty town, nouncourse, nouncove, nouncrag, nouncraggy, adjectivecreek, nouncrevasse, nouncrevice, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundateline, noundelta, noundesert, noundesert island, noundevelopment, noundistrict, noundivide, noundown, adverbdune, noundust bowl, nouneast, nouneast, adjectiveeast, adverbeastbound, adjectiveeasterly, adjectiveeasterly, nouneastern, adjectiveEasterner, nouneasternmost, adjectiveeastwards, adverbelevation, nouneminence, nounenvirons, nounequatorial, adjectiveerode, verberosion, nounescarpment, nounestuary, nounEurope, nounextraterritorial, adjectiveeyot, nounface, nounfarmland, nounfeeder, nounfiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood plain, nounfluvial, adjectivefrontier, nounfrontiersman, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungeo-, prefixgeography, noungeophysics, noungeopolitics, noungeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglaciation, nounglacier, nounglobe, noungoldfield, noungorge, noungrassland, nounGrecian, adjectivegreen belt, noungrid, noungrotto, noungroundwater, noungulch, noungulf, noungully, nounhead, nounheadland, nounheadwaters, nounheartland, nounhemisphere, nounhighland, adjectivehighlands, nounhigh water mark, nounhinterland, nounHome Counties, the, homeland, nounhurricane, noun-i, suffixIberian, adjectiveiceberg, nounice cap, nounice floe, nounice pack, nounice sheet, nouninhabitant, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninner city, nouninshore, adverbinsular, adjectiveintercontinental, adjectiveInternational Date Line, nounisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounisobar, nounIsraeli, adjectiveIsraeli, nounisthmus, nounItalian, adjectiveItalianate, adjectiveItalo-, prefixJapanese, adjectivekey, nounknoll, nounlagoon, nounlake, nounlandlocked, adjectivelandmass, nounlandslide, nounlandslip, nounlat., Latin, adjectiveLatin America, nounLatin American, adjectivelatitude, nounlevee, nounlittoral, nounlong., longitude, nounlongitudinal, adjectivelough, nounlowlands, nounlow-lying, adjectivelow water mark, nounmagnetic north, nounmagnetic pole, nounmarsh, nounmarshland, nounmeander, verbMediterranean, adjectiveMercator projection, nounmeridian, nounmesa, nounMiddle America, nounmidtown, adjectivemonsoon, nounmoorland, nounmorass, nounmountain, nounmountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudslide, nounmull, nounnarrows, nounnavigation, nounNE, neck, nounnor'-, prefixnorth, nounnorth, adjectivenorth, adverbNorth America, nounnortheast, nounnortheast, adjectivenortheasterly, adjectivenortheastern, adjectivenortheastwards, adverbnortherly, adjectivenorthern, adjectivenortherner, nounnorthernmost, adjectivenorthwards, adverbnorthwest, nounnorthwest, adjectivenorthwesterly, adjectivenorthwestern, adjectivenorthwestwards, adverbnotch, nounNW, NZ, oasis, nounoccidental, nounocean, nounonshore, adjectiveopenness, nounOrdnance Survey map, nounoriental, adjectiveoutcrop, nounoverspill, nounpack ice, nounpaddy, nounpalisade, nounpan-, prefixpanhandle, nounparallel, nounpeak, nounpeninsula, nounPersian, adjectivephysical geography, nounplain, nounplateau, nounpoint, nounpolar, adjectivepole, nounpolitical geography, nounpollutant, nounpop., populate, verbpopulation, nounprairie, nounprecipice, nounprecipitation, nounPrime Meridian, principality, nounprojection, nounpromontory, nounprovince, nounprovincial, adjectivepueblo, nounR, rainfall, nounrain forest, nounrain gauge, nounrainstorm, nounrange, nounravine, nounreef, nounreference, nounregion, nounregional, adjectiverelief map, nounreservoir, nounresettle, verbresidential, adjectiveresource, nounridge, nounrift valley, nounrise, verbriver, nounriver basin, nounriver bed, nounRoman, adjectiverotation, nounrugged, adjectiverun-off, nounrural, adjectivesand, nounsand bar, nounsandstorm, nounsandy, adjectivesavanna, nounScandinavian, nounscar, nounscarp, nounscree, nounscrubland, nounSE, seaboard, nounsea breeze, nounseafront, nounsea level, nounseaport, nounseaward, adjectivesection, nounsemitropical, adjectiveshelf, nounslough, nounsmog, nounsnowfield, nounsource, nounsouth, nounsouth, adjectivesouth, adverbSouth America, adjectivesoutheast, nounsoutheast, adjectivesoutheasterly, adjectivesoutheastern, adjectivesoutheastwards, adverbsoutherly, adjectivesouthern, adjectivesouthernmost, adjectivesouthwards, adverbsouthwest, nounsouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivesouthwestern, adjectivesouthwestwards, adverbspeleology, nounspit, nounspur, nounstrait, nounsubcontinent, nounsubtropical, adjectivesuburb, nounsuburban, adjectivesummit, nounsurvey, nounsurvey, verbSW, swamp, nountableland, nounterrain, nounterritory, nountidal, adjectivetidal wave, nountidewater, nountime zone, nountop, nountopography, nountor, nountornado, nountown, nountown centre, nountowpath, nountrack, nountract, nountrade route, nountrail, nountransatlantic, adjectivetranscontinental, adjectivetributary, nountropic, nountropical, adjectivetundra, nountyphoon, nounUK, the, uncharted, adjectiveup, adverbup-country, adjectiveuplands, nounupper, adjectiveupriver, adverbupstate, adjectiveupstream, adverbuptown, adverburban, adjectiveurbanized, adjectiveurban renewal, nounurban sprawl, nounUS, the, adjectivevalley, nounW, warm front, nounwaste, adjectivewasteland, nounwater, verbwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterfront, nounwaterhole, nounwatering place, nounwater meadow, nounwatershed, nounwater table, nounwaterway, nounweather vane, nounwest, nounwest, adjectiveWest, nounwestern, adjectiveWesterner, nounwesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwilderness, nounwolds, nounzoning, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meaning 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + gap Alvin managed to bridge the gap between ballet and modern dance. an attempt to close the gap between the rich and poor I spent most of the summer filling the gaps in my education. The company has moved quickly to fill the niche in the overnight travel market. The new system has made a huge difference. Leave the next two lines blank for the tutor’s comments. Drivers should always leave room for cyclists. A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. the unbridgeable gulf between the rich and the poor the yawning gap between the two cliffsCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· There’s a big gap between the two test scores.
· A huge gap exists between the life styles of the rich and the poor.
· There’s only a narrow gap between the two candidates in the polls.
(=a very big difference)· There’s a yawning gap between the earnings of men and women.
· There is a widening gap in the academic performance of boys and girls.
(=a gap that cannot be closed)· He felt that there was an unbridgeable gap between the negotiating positions of the two sides.
(=the difference between the amount a country imports and exports)· Britain’s trade gap almost doubled last month.
(=the difference between men and women)· The gender gap was visible in the way men and women voted during the presidential elections.
(=the difference in attitudes, tastes etc between older and younger people)· Taste in music is a good indicator of the generation gap.
(=a difference in age between two people)· Despite the age gap, they became good friends.
(=a difference between cultures)· There is a cultural gap between Europe and America on this subject.
verbs (=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.
· Polls show the gap between the two candidates has narrowed.
· Technology has widened the gap between people with and without computer skills.
· The gap is widening between the incomes of the rich and the less well-off.
· A cultural gap exists between the older and the younger generations.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Alvin managed to bridge the gap between ballet and modern dance. an attempt to close the gap between the rich and poor I spent most of the summer filling the gaps in my education. The company has moved quickly to fill the niche in the overnight travel market. (=a difference between men and women)· The gender gap was visible in the way men and women voted during the presidential elections.
(=the difference between people of different generations)· This study explores the generation gap between parents and their teenage children.
The new system has made a huge difference. Leave the next two lines blank for the tutor’s comments. Drivers should always leave room for cyclists. (=a very large loophole)· There is a gaping loophole in the ban on arms sales to poor countries.
A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. the unbridgeable gulf between the rich and the poor (=one that is wide and open)· Blood spurted from his gaping wounds.
the yawning gap between the two cliffs· So there were big gaps in the department.· Toussaint, like Evil, had a big gap between his front teeth.· The bigger the gap between the waves, the better.· We find a big gap between corporations and small-business owners.· Apart from the absence of tracks, there are big gaps in the accommodation market.· Finally there was a big enough gap and Shelly's scent came flooding in.· Perhaps the biggest gap in both the Tomlinson report and Making London Better concerns research and postgraduate teaching.· Inside, the glovebox lid didn't fit properly, with a much bigger gap on one side than the other.
· He too recognised the great gap that yawned between them.· Vainly the artillery of the Federals tore great gaps and paths through this torrent of men....· The greater the amount of planning control, the greater did the gap become.· The wall was crumbling and there were great gaps in it.· Only then did she comprehend the implications of that great, obscene gap.· But a great silent gap remains.· At present we have to rely on several sources of information, which sometimes overlap, and which definitely leave great gaps.· There is a much greater pay gap for women working part-time.
· But huge gaps in information remain.· This explains, according to those who took the survey, the huge gender gap.· Foreign and company ownership often leaves a huge gap between boss and keeper and the traditions.· There was a huge gap between aim and achievement in the Carter administration.· Indeed, the appearance of Lonsdale's book reveals and at once remedies a huge gap in the study of women writers.· There is a huge gap in organizing the employer community in the United States.· As a consequence, this junction in the rocks represents a huge gap in the record.· But then Wigan underlined the huge gap in class.
· Questions to be explored include: How large is the gap between policy assumptions and social reality?· There are, in fact, large data gaps.· As that support may be coming to an end, there may be a large gap.· It was a month before anything was done about the large gap left by a missing pane.· Draw any tacks remaining from previous floor coverings 2 Fill large gaps between boards with strips of wood cut to a wedge-shape.· The large gap between the bassoons and the next woodwind part above is filled by the brass.· I can't remember everything exactly - there are already large gaps in the tying in of facts and diagnosis.· But this evidence still leaves a large gap to be filled between the early fifth century and St Cuthbert's visit.
· And in the end a wadi appeared, a narrow, twisting gap that could protect them.· Darkness was falling rapidly as Campeanu eased his way past the narrow gap.· Rosie O'Dell peered through the narrow gap, her eyes half-shut against the glare of daylight.· Devaluation would also help narrow our trade gap.· Then he eased himself through the narrow gap feet first, and dropped lightly to the floor.· The crew tried to sail her through a narrow gap at a bridge in Purton.· It jerked against the safety-chain, leaving a narrow gap through which he scrambled to safety.
· It was the smallest gap between the parties since the general election.· The shelf was full, except for a small gap, where it looked as if a book had been taken out.· This model has a narrow suction face which can get into the smallest of gaps.· Being a mere 60 inches wide you can dart and squeeze into even the smallest of gaps.· And the more links that are discovered between mental and neural processes, the smaller the dualist gap becomes.· On the credit side, there is probably a smaller gap between the two generations in outlook and interests.· All photographic emulsions have a small time gap between the beginning of an exposure and when the image starts to appear.· All that was visible was a small gap for his nose; the rest of his head was completely encased in gauze.
· The greater danger is that there may be an even wider cultural gap growing between the two philosophies of rugby.· The senator faced an especially wide gap among voters younger than 30 and older than 60.· Without major oil and gas discoveries, there will be a wide gap between demand and supply.· But there is, indeed, still a wide gap in the use of flexibility.· I have indicated that a wide and unacceptable gap exists between central plans and local realities.· But when the national polls are a wide gap, the country is pretty likely to follow.· He came to a wide gap which had been trodden into mud by cattle.· Be truthful Maggie - is 29 years too wide a gap to bridge?
NOUN· Inaccurate though this perception may be, it creates a credibility gap which Peavey must yet cross.· A poor attendance record leads to a credibility gap with superiors. 2.· Why Clinton administration officials have opened such a yawning credibility gap is hard to say.
· The gender gap is the difference between these two margins: 16 percentage points.· A large gender gap is not necessarily good news for Democrats, of course.· But the gender gap is not so easily overcome.· It is not even clear that the gender gap is in fact growing.· Conscious of the gender gap, even more are pursuing initiatives targeted specifically at women.· The gender gap is neither expanding nor shrinking.· Republicans were slow to take alarm at the gender gap because it used to work in their favor.
· It seemed that he had a foot planted firmly on both sides of the generation gap.· The generation gap is another evil plan.· This versatile book combines communicative activities with information on topics as varied as national customs, food, and the generation gap.· He tells me that they had a discussion in school about the generation gap.· The generation gap creates tension Law is now a young profession.· With class war anaesthetized by the Cold War and affluence, the generation gap and teenagers became a subject for serious observation.· The results were stunningly successful and caught the flavour of Sixties London and the generation gap.· The generation gap here was too wide.
· Interestingly, gap junctions in patients with recurrent ulcer were much fewer than in patients with first onset ulcer.· These results suggest that the loss of intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions may be associated with the recurrence of gastric ulcers.· The criterion for a gap junction was a minimum of 20 membrane particles in a plaque.· The patients with gastric ulcer had significantly fewer gap junctions than did the healthy volunteers.· Small gap junctions were observed between gastric surface mucous cells in all healthy volunteers.· There was no obvious relationship between age and the development of gap junctions in patients with gastric ulcer or in healthy volunteers.· These findings suggest that loss of intercellular communication via gap junctions is associated with gastric ulcer formation.
· Economists surveyed by Bloomberg Business News projected the trade gap to come in at $ 7. 1 billion.· There was brighter news on the trade front for Britain yesterday, with a £766 million cut in the trade gap.· The narrowing trade gap means that growth in the fourth quarter could be better than expected, said analysts.· He said yesterday his first priorities would be to tackle inflation and the widening trade gap.· The trade gap widened by 3. 4 percent to $ 10. 36 billion, the highest in seven months.· The Government has no little interest in this as the negative food trade gap is about £5.7 billion.· Devaluation would also help narrow our trade gap.
VERB· The approach for bridging this gap is frequently called a strategy.· In short, leaders attempt to bridge the gap between idealism and pragmatism.· He saw how Simpson kept trying to get back to the leaders-but could not bridge the gap.· He bridges that gap between the Old and the New.· They would drink side by side with City workers, but would never quite bridge the communication gap.
· But it has closed the gap slightly.· While the list of proposed transportation projects is being refined, possible methods to close the funding gap are being considered.· Boughton Hall closed the gap with an eight wicket triumph at Huyton.· In recent years, California sparkling wines have been closing the style gap as well.· A great deal of work is needed to close that conceptual gap.· Women are closing the math gap.· Gretna, meanwhile, are hoping to close the gap on leaders Murton by beating Ferryhill at Raydale Park.· Like Schüssler Fiorenza, Phyllis Trible seeks to close the gap between past and present.
· Even now, in the late 1980s, schools continue to attempt to bridge the cultural gap which exists between races.· I have indicated that a wide and unacceptable gap exists between central plans and local realities.· New editions will essentially be cumulations and therefore a longer gap will exist between editions.· Much of this equipment is complex, some is in need of upgrading, and some gaps exist.· The gap in earnings has existed throughout this century.· In some areas of work there is an overlap in functions and in other gaps exist.
· A non-statutory body with gifts from concerned members of the public can fill such gaps.· Two bonus programs fill in that gap: First, Honda pays an attendance bonus.· So I can colour my hair to fill in the gap.· Corporate social scientists now candidly admit that with the disintegration of traditional social structures, companies have filled the gap.· We know some general facts, and we can begin to fill in the gaps in our understanding.· I suspect that if the government gets out of the way, more charities will eagerly fill whatever gap is created.· They help fill the gap between the constitutional formality and the political reality.· Sales of gold from central banks were needed to fill the gap, Gold Fields said.
· There's still a growing gap between the rich and poor, despite the increasing popularity of the Internet.· Some one else must shout warnings about the growing gap between income levels in this nation.· Nettles grew everywhere, and ragwort, and the wall itself was thick with plants growing in every available gap.
· This project is intended to help fill the gap.· He advocates forming private foundations and approaching agricultural and manufacturing businesses to help bridge the gap in state financing.· But curricular and assessment arrangements should aim to raise expectations and to help to narrow the gap wherever possible.· An attempt will be made to identify best practice, to help bridge the gap between theoretical prescriptions and practical modelling procedures.· Devaluation would also help narrow our trade gap.· They help fill the gap between the constitutional formality and the political reality.· I suggested that perhaps I could help him fill in gaps in his memory.· The housing directory will help bridge this gap - although the proposed legal aid cuts do cast a cloud over this.
· Laura had always been able to identify gaps in the market and fill them.· Always have others read over your material in order to identify gaps, flaws and oversights of various kinds.· The current review of the Structure Plan identified the gap in conservation measures.· It works by identifying the key skill gaps and providing a structured approach to the delivery of the training.· The Committee identified some of the gaps in research as related to inadequate statistical information, particularly in central government.· As well as suggesting possible improvements, older people may also identify gaps in their local council services.
· It is important to leave a gap between the water surface and the drip tray to allow this.· His passing leaves a sore gap in his family circle and in his wider circle of friends and acquaintances.· At the time Cook was concentrating on smaller, more select parties which left a gap in the market for larger tours.· But this evidence still leaves a large gap to be filled between the early fifth century and St Cuthbert's visit.· They had left a gap in the life of the city.· Some caves - usually small - are formed when blocks of rock have moved relative to each other, leaving a gap.· It leaves gaps, as if certain musicians had left the orchestra.· It has left a gap in our hearts, through which the wind is still whistling.
· It fits into conventional cisterns, and works by opening an air gap in the siphon as soon as the handle is released.· Zanardi opened up a four-second gap over second-place Brian Herta, which Herta made up with a good pit stop.· And the task of avoiding gaps was not simple: two factors could distort the wall vertically and open up gaps.· Then Stanford whips in and opens the gap.
· Insurance companies aim to plug the gap.· Many professionals said this failed to plug a gap in the Children Act.· Small businesses are crying out for workers, and poor foreigners plug a gap.· The remaining people would become overburdened trying to plug the gaps.· A lack of adequate reserves means the company will have to plug the gap using other resources.· McAllister spelled out what's needed to start plugging the 11-point gap between themselves and leaders Norwich.· The expatriate's role is often poorly defined; instead of genuine capacity building, expatriates simply plug gaps.· He hopes that I may be able, in some way, to plug the gap in his family history.
· A day that was meant to bring them closer, to seal the gap that he felt was developing between them.· However, these strips will not seal large gaps and should be replaced every two years.
· Census Bureau data shows a widening gap between rich and poor since 1968, which has become increasingly wider in recent years.· I have tried to show the real gap between Labour and the Conservative party and Government on matters of law and order.· It goes to show you the gap between reality and virtual reality in military thinking.· Family Expenditure Survey data also show the widening gap between the incomes of lone parents and the incomes of couples with children.
· She didn't try to disguise the gap it left behind by drawing the other suits together.· So Monnens decided to try to bridge the gap between advertisers and Web sites.· Why not try to close the gap from the top down?· Mr Premadasa tried to close the gap between Sinhalese and Tamils.· The aim of this research is to try and fill the gap.· A new association within Federchimica has been formed to try close this gap.
· In fact, many recent developments have served to widen the gap between North and South.· The net result of war making by way of symbols is to widen the actual gap between luxury and poverty.· A survey by the Engineering Industry Training Board found that the technology widened the gap between people with different levels of skills.· Often they promise improvements at much greater cost, widening the gap between the possible and the affordable.· The outcome could have widened the already-growing gap between rich and poor and profoundly affected our economic prosperity for decades.· To its opponents, however, the poll tax will reduce civil liberties and widen the gap between rich and poor.· Census Bureau data shows a widening gap between rich and poor since 1968, which has become increasingly wider in recent years.
· The yawning gap between the two was deeply worrying.· Why Clinton administration officials have opened such a yawning credibility gap is hard to say.· Some see a yawning culture gap between conservatives and liberals.· To a yawning gap in how I see the world and how the world sees me.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1a space a space between two objects or two parts of an object, especially because something is missinggap in- At the time Cook was concentrating on smaller, more select parties which left a gap in the market for larger tours.
- Clearly, a gap in the market.
- Laura had always been able to identify gaps in the market and fill them.
- Part of the skill of successful development is in identifying and satisfying gaps in the market which offer higher than usual returns.
- There was a gap in the market which wouldn't last for ever.
- A poor attendance record leads to a credibility gap with superiors. 2.
- Inaccurate though this perception may be, it creates a credibility gap which Peavey must yet cross.
- Why Clinton administration officials have opened such a yawning credibility gap is hard to say.
- The mayor wants to raise property taxes to plug the gap in the budget.
- A lack of adequate reserves means the company will have to plug the gap using other resources.
- Creches, Back to Nursing courses and Nurse Banks emerged as a means of plugging the gap.
- He hopes that I may be able, in some way, to plug the gap in his family history.
- Insurance companies aim to plug the gap.
- The remaining people would become overburdened trying to plug the gaps.
- They are meant to plug the gaps in the trade embargo that has been in force for almost a year.
- But there is, indeed, still a wide gap in the use of flexibility.
- But when the national polls are a wide gap, the country is pretty likely to follow.
- Just as there may be a wide variation in the inputs, so may the outputs vary.
- Solids exhibit a wide variation in rigidity.
- The second column also shows that there is a wide variation between regions in the proportion of exports to foreign debt.
- There is a wide difference between promise and performance.
- Waiting time by specialty is meaningless as it conceals a wide variation among consultants' clinics.
- Within the general waste type shown in these figures exists a wide variation.
- A yawning gap was forecast between anticipated social expenditures and resources.
- In publishing the Hepplewhite Guide the Taylors were filling a yawning gap.
- Passion 57% A yawning chasm opens up after these four attributes.
- The yawning gap between the two was deeply worrying.
- There are yawning gulfs stretching down into the abyss which have often swallowed up cities that have fallen into them.
- There is and always has been a yawning gap at the budget end of the amplifier market.
- There was nothing there but a terrible, yawning gap.
- To a yawning gap in how I see the world and how the world sees me.
The neighbors’ dog got in through a gap in the hedge. a gap in the trafficgap between the gap between the two rows of seats► see thesaurus at hole2difference a big difference between two situations, amounts, groups of people etcgap between the widening gap between the rich and the poor → generation gap3something missing something missing that stops something else from being good or completegap 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.4in time a period of time when nothing is happening, that exists between two other periods of time when something is happeninggap in an awkward gap in the conversationgap between The gaps between his visits got longer and longer. → gap year5in a mountain a low place between two higher parts of a mountain6gap 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 itCOLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + gapa 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.verbsbridge/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.