/gæp; ˇæp/
n ~ (in/between sth)
1 opening or break in sth or between two things 缺口; 裂口; 豁口
*a gap in a fence, hedge, wall, etc 篱笆、树篱、墙壁等的豁口
* The road goes through a gap in/between the hills. 公路从山间峡谷穿过.
2 unfilled interval of space （空间的）间隔
*a gap of five miles between towns 镇与镇之间 相隔五英里
* (fig 比喻) There were some unaccountable gaps in (ie parts missing from) his story. 他讲的话有些地方连贯不起来.
3 unfilled interval of time; lapse （时间的）间隙, 间断
*a gap in the conversation 谈话中的停顿
* After a gap of
30 years the custom was reintroduced. 这一风俗中断了30年後又兴起来了.
* a temporary job to fill the gap between school and university 高中毕业到升入大学前这段时间的临时工作.
4 (fig 比喻) separation 分离
*a wide gap between the opinions of two people 两人意见的巨大分歧.
5 (fig 比喻) deficiency which needs to be filled 需加填补的不足、缺陷或空白
*a gap in one's education 个人受教育上的缺欠
* There was a terrible gap in her life after her husband died. 她在丈夫去世後生活中有过一段难堪的日子.
* a gap in the market, ie absence of a type of article which people might wish to buy 市场上某货物的脱销.
6 (idm 习语) bridge a/the gap => bridge. a credibility gap => credibility (credible). the generation gap => generation.

n[C]

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1【a space】
2【difference】
3【something missing】
4【in time】
5【in a mountain】
6 gap in the market

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[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse;Origin:'hole, deep narrow valley']
【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
【DIFFERENCE】
a big difference between two situations, amounts, groups of people etc
→gulfgap between
　the widening gap between the rich and the poor
bridge/close/narrow the gap
(=reduce the amount or importance of a difference)
　His films attempt to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity.
　The gap has narrowed to just 12 points now.
　It seems that the trade gap is widening (=the difference between the amount a country imports and exports) .
→generation gap
【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.
【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
【IN A MOUNTAIN】
a low place between two higher parts of a mountain
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