a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.

a convulsive effort to breathe.

a short, convulsive utterance

the words came out in gasps.

to catch one's breath.

to struggle for breath with the mouth open; breathe convulsively.

to long with breathless eagerness; desire; crave (usually fol. by for or after ).

to utter with gasps (often fol. by out, forth, away, etc.)

She gasped out the words.

to breathe or emit with gasps (often fol. by away ). ?

last gasp

the point of death; dying

At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.

noun

blow , ejaculation , exclamation , gulp , heave , pant , puff , wheeze , whoop

verb

blow , catch one’s breath , choke , convulse , fight for breath , gulp , heave , inhale , inspire , pant , puff , respire , sniffle , snort , wheeze , whoop , huff , breathe , exclaim