Lewis & Short

hĭātus, ūs, m. [hio], an opening, aperture, cleft (class. in sing. and plur.; cf. rima, rictus).

  1. I. Lit.: animalia cibum partim oris hiatu et dentibus ipsis capessunt, partim unguium tenacitate arripiunt, Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 122: oris, Suet. Claud. 27; Verg. A. 11, 680.
    Without oris: ne immodicus hiatus rictum distendat, Quint. 1, 11, 9: extremus exspirantis, id. 6, 2, 31: Nemeaeus magnus hiatus Ille leonis, Lucr. 5, 24; cf.: quinquaginta atris immanis hiatibus Hydra, i. e. open mouths, Verg. A. 6, 576; Ov. M. 7, 557; 11, 61; Val. Fl. 1, 34: personae pallentis hiatus, Juv. 3, 175: magno sublimis pardus hiatu, id. 11, 123; Plin. 28, 4, 7, § 38; cf. of Boreas: imbres, sicco quos asper hiatu Persolidat Boreas, with a dry throat, dry breath, Stat. Th. 1, 352: repentini terrarum hiatus, Cic. N. D. 2, 5, 14: hauriri urbes terrae hiatibus, Plin. 36, 15, 24, § 119; cf.: qui (Gyges) descendit in illum hiatum, Cic. Off. 3, 9, 38: neu distracta (Natura) suum late dispandat hiatum, Lucr. 6, 599: quantum caeli patet altus hiatus, id. 4, 418; cf. id. 5, 375: fit et caeli ipsius hiatus, quod vocant chasma, Plin. 2, 26, 26, § 96: corticis bipedalis hiatus, id. 16, 12, 23, § 57: hiatus patuli fontis, i. e. basin, Ov. M. 3, 162: specus est tenebroso caecus hiatu, aperture, id. ib. 7, 409: veteris rimae cum texit hiatum, Juv. 3, 195.
    Poet.: quid dignum tanto feret hic promissor hiatu? i. e. of such pompous language, high-flown style, Hor. A. P. 138; cf. Juv. 6, 636.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. In gen., an eager desire, longing (so used by Tac.): libidine sanguinis et hiatu praemiorum, Tac. H. 4, 42.
    2. B. In partic., in gram., a hiatus: habet enim ille tamquam hiatus concursu vocalium molle quiddam et quod indicet non ingratam negligentiam, Cic. Or. 23, 77; Quint. 9, 4, 33: (Catullus) amans hiatus illius Homerici suavitatem, ebriosa dixit propter insequentis a litterae (verbi acinae) concentum, Gell. 7, 20, 6.