欠
yawn; owe; lack; lift slightly
Meanings
4 senses · 19 examplesverb
to yawn; stretch while yawning
Often used to describe the physical reaction of being tired or sleepy.
He yawned and stretched, ready to go to bed.
Don't yawn and stretch in public during class, it's very impolite.
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Staying up late for days made him prone to yawning and stretching.
After reading the lengthy report, he couldn't help yawning and stretching.
He had been yawning and stretching all the way while rushing to catch the early bus.
verb
to lift slightly; to raise a little
informalUsually used with a directional complement or repeated to describe a small, quick upward movement of a body part.
I tiptoed and reached the book on the top shelf.
He leaned forward slightly to see what was behind the podium.
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She tiptoed to grab the candy on the counter.
To not block others, he shifted his body slightly to make way.
The short boy had to tiptoe to reach the water dispenser's spout.
verb
to owe; to be in debt
Can refer to financial debts, emotional debts, or favors owed to others.
He owes a sum of money and has been working odd jobs to pay it off recently.
This small shop allows customers to buy daily goods on credit.
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I owe my friends a lot of favors, and I must repay them properly later.
This company is on the verge of bankruptcy due to too many unpaid debts.
She has owed me money for a long time and hasn't paid it back yet.
adjective
lacking; insufficient; inadequate
Often used before adjectives or nouns to indicate a shortage of a certain quality, condition, or element.
The ending of this essay is mediocre and does not echo the opening.
This dish wasn't cooked long enough; it needs a little more time on the heat.
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He acted without much thought when handling the emergency and almost caused a big disaster.
Everything is ready except for the crucial factor; we are just waiting for the project launch notice.