pant

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pant / pant/ • v. [intr.] breathe with short, quick breaths, typically from exertion or excitement: he was panting when he reached the top. ∎  run or go in a specified direction while panting: they panted up the stairs. ∎  [with direct speech] say something breathlessly: “We'll never have time,” she panted. ∎  long for, or long to do, something: it makes you pant for more. ∎ poetic/lit. (of the heart or chest) throb violently from strong emotions.• n. a short, quick breath. ∎ poetic/lit. a throb or heave of a person's heart or chest.DERIVATIVES: pant·ing·ly adv.