mouth

[ noun mouth; verb mouth ]

noun

, plural mouths [mou, th, z].

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. Slang.
   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.

mouth

/ 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 oraloscular
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. by word of mouth
    orally rather than by written means
16. down in the mouth or down at the mouth
    in low spirits
17. have a big mouth or open one's big mouth informal.
    to speak indiscreetly, loudly, or excessively
18. keep one's mouth shut
    to keep a secret
19. put one's money where one's mouth is
    to take appropriate action to support what one has said
20. put words into someone's mouth
    1. to represent, often inaccurately, what someone has said
    2. to tell someone what to say
21. run off at the mouth informal.
    to talk incessantly, esp about unimportant matters

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. intrusually foll byat to make a grimace

Derived Forms

• mouther, noun

Other Words From

• mouther noun
• mouthless adjective
• outmouth verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mouth¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mouth¹

Old English mūth; compare Old Norse muthr, Gothic munths, Dutch mond

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. down in / at the mouth, Informal. dejected; depressed; disheartened:

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

2. run off at the mouth, Informal. to talk incessantly or indiscreetly.
3. talk out of both sides of one's mouth, to make contradictory or untruthful statements.

More idioms and phrases containing mouth

In addition to the idiom beginning with mouth , also see 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 .

Example Sentences

We get them through our mouths, through our skin and in our bones, by breathing.

From Salon

“Someone can say with their mouth that they want to die, but how can a judge know what is really going on inside their head.”

From BBC

When a sea anemone's foot was injured, Cheung observed not only cell division at the wound site but also unexpected cell division at the opposite end of the body -- the mouth area.

From Science Daily

Pop one into your mouth and swallow — as thousands of children do annually — and they can quickly cause devastating injuries.

From Los Angeles Times

"You've that guilt there and it lives with you every day, that if you had have opened your mouth and said something maybe it would have been nipped in the bud."

From BBC

Related Words

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