pant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the noise made by a short puff of steam (as from an engine)
  2. noun (usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
    trouser.
    • he had a sharp crease in his trousers
  3. noun a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
    gasp.
    • she gave a gasp and fainted
  4. verb breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
    puff; gasp; heave.
    • The runners reached the finish line, panting heavily
  5. verb utter while panting, as if out of breath

WordNet

Pant intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. panteler to gasp for breath, OF. panteisier to be breathless, F. pantois out of breath; perh. akin to E. phantom, the verb prob. orig. meaning, to have the nightmare.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Panted; present participle & verbal noun Panting
Definitions
  1. To breathe quickly or in a labored manner, as after exertion or from eagerness or excitement; to respire with heaving of the breast; to gasp.
    Pluto plants for breath from out his cell. Dryden.
  2. Hence: To long eagerly; to desire earnestly.
    As the hart panteth after the water brooks. Ps. xlii. 1.
    Who pants for glory finds but short repose. Pope.
  3. To beat with unnatural violence or rapidity; to palpitate, or throb; -- said of the heart. Spenser.
  4. To sigh; to flutter; to languish. Poetic
    The whispering breeze Pants on the leaves, and dies upon the trees. Pope.
Pant transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To breathe forth quickly or in a labored manner; to gasp out.
    There is a cavern where my spirit Was panted forth in anguish. Shelley.
  2. To long for; to be eager after. R.
    Then shall our hearts pant thee. Herbert.
Pant noun
Definitions
  1. A quick breathing; a catching of the breath; a gasp. Drayton.
  2. A violent palpitation of the heart. Shak.

Webster 1913