Mouth Definition & Meaning

American

British

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Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms mouth American [mouth, mouth] / maʊθ, maʊð /

noun

plural

mouths

1. Anatomy, Zoology.

   1. the opening through which an animal or human takes in food.

   2. the cavity containing the structures used in mastication.

   3. the structures enclosing or being within this cavity, considered as a whole.

2. the masticating and tasting apparatus.

3. a person or animal dependent on someone for sustenance.

   another mouth to feed.

4. the oral opening or cavity considered as the source of vocal utterance.

5. utterance or expression.

   to give mouth to one's thoughts.

   Synonyms: speech, voice

6. talk, especially loud, empty, or boastful talk.

   That man is all mouth.

7. disrespectful talk or language; back talk; impudence.

8. a grimace made with the lips.

9. an opening leading out of or into any cavity or hollow place or thing.

   the mouth of a cave; a bottle's mouth.

10. the outfall at the lower end of a river or stream, where flowing water is discharged, as into a lake, sea, or ocean.

    the mouth of the Nile.

11. the opening between the jaws of a vise or the like.

12. the lateral hole of an organ pipe.

13. the lateral blowhole of a flute.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter in a sonorous or pompous manner, or with excessive mouth movements.

   to mouth a speech.

2. to form (a word, sound, etc.) with the lips without actually making an utterance.

   She silently mouthed her answer so as not to wake her napping child.

3. to utter or pronounce softly and indistinctly; mumble.

   Stop mouthing your words and speak up.

4. to put or take into the mouth, as food.

5. to press, rub, or chew at with the mouth or lips.

   The dog mouthed the toys.

6. to accustom (a horse) to the use of the bit and bridle.

verb (used without object)

1. to speak sonorously and oratorically, or with excessive mouth movement.

2. to grimace with the lips.

verb phrase

1. mouth off

   1. to talk back; sass.

      He mouthed off to his mother.

   2. to express one's opinions, objections, or the like in a forceful or uninhibited manner, especially in public.

idioms

1. run off at the mouth, to talk incessantly or indiscreetly.

2. talk out of both sides of one's mouth, to make contradictory or untruthful statements.

3. down in / at the mouth, dejected; depressed; disheartened.

   Ever since he lost his job, he has been looking very down in the mouth.

mouth British / ˈmaʊðə /

noun

1. the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds

2. the system of organs surrounding this opening, including the lips, tongue, teeth, etc

3. the visible part of the lips on the face

4. a person regarded as a consumer of food

   four mouths to feed

5. verbal expression (esp in the phrase give mouth to )

6. a particular manner of speaking

   a foul mouth

7. informal boastful, rude, or excessive talk

   he is all mouth

8. the point where a river issues into a sea or lake

9. the opening of a container, such as a jar

10. the opening of or place leading into a cave, tunnel, volcano, etc

11. that part of the inner lip of a horse on which the bit acts, esp when specified as to sensitivity

    a hard mouth

12. music the narrow slit in an organ pipe

13. the opening between the jaws of a vice or other gripping device

14. a pout; grimace

15. orally rather than by written means

16. in low spirits

17. informal to speak indiscreetly, loudly, or excessively

18. to keep a secret

19. to take appropriate action to support what one has said

20. 1. to represent, often inaccurately, what someone has said

    2. to tell someone what to say

21. informal to talk incessantly, esp about unimportant matters

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. to speak or say (something) insincerely, esp in public

2. (tr) to form (words) with movements of the lips but without speaking

3. (tr) to accustom (a horse) to wearing a bit

4. (tr) to take (something) into the mouth or to move (something) around inside the mouth

5. to make a grimace

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 mouth More Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing mouth

• bad mouth
• big mouth
• butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth
• down in the dumps (mouth)
• foam at the mouth
• foot in one's mouth
• from the horse's mouth
• hand to mouth
• have one's heart in one's mouth
• keep one's mouth shut
• laugh out of the other side of one's mouth
• leave a bad taste in one's mouth
• look a gift horse in the mouth
• make one's mouth water
• melt in one's mouth
• not open one's mouth
• out of the mouths of babes
• put one's money where one's mouth is
• put words in someone's mouth
• run off at the mouth
• shoot off one's mouth
• take the bit in one's mouth
• take the bread out of someone's mouth
• take the words out of someone's mouth
• word of mouth

Other Word Forms

• mouther noun
• mouthless adjective
• outmouth verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of mouth

before 900; Middle English; Old English mūth; cognate with German Mund, Old Norse munnr

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Waffle flew from my mouth and landed across the table.

From Literature

He was staring at the two kids, a smirk twisting his mouth.

From Literature

“I guess ‘brain attack’ is a phrase you might have to feel,” Gyllenhaal offers, her mouth widening into a smile.

From Los Angeles Times

A salmon so consistently coral, so perfectly sliced that it melts in your mouth, glistening with so much naturally rich Omega-3s that it’s like a fatty halo shining on the plate.

From Salon

Turtles swim into the mouth of the river, in the Long Beach-Seal Beach area, and then just hang out and eat algae.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• box
• cavity
• door
• entrance
• gate
• rim

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.