Swallowing something quickly and often in large amounts, especially liquid; or catching one's breath suddenly.
From Dutch 'gulpen' or imitative origin (the sound of swallowing). First appeared in English in the 1600s to describe the sound and action of swallowing.
Interestingly, 'gulping' for air is a reflex many animals share—fish gulp at the surface when oxygen is low, and the word captures that desperate, audible breath-catching moment.
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