noun
1.
either of the two fleshy parts or folds forming the margins of the mouth and functioning in speech.
2.
Usually, lips. these parts as organs of speech: I heard it from his own lips.
3.
a projecting edge on a container or other hollow object: the lip of a pitcher.
4.
a liplike part or structure, especially of anatomy.
5.
any edge or rim.
6.
the edge of an opening or cavity, as of a canyon or a wound: the lip of the crater.
7.
Slang. impudent talk; back talk: Don't give me any of your lip.
8.
Botany. either of the two parts into which the corolla or calyx of certain plants, especially of the mint family, is divided.
9.
10.
Music. the position and arrangement of lips and tongue in playing a wind instrument; embouchure.
11.
the cutting edge of a tool.
12.
the blade, at the end of an auger, which cuts the chip after it has been circumscribed by the spur.
13.
(in a twist drill) the cutting edge at the bottom of each flute.
adjective
14.
of or pertaining to the lips or a lip: lip ointment.
15.
characterized by or made with the lips: to read lip movements.
16.
superficial or insincere: to offer lip praise.
00:10
Lip
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
| to flee; abscond: |
verb (used with object)
17.
to touch with the lips.
18.
Golf. to hit the ball over the rim of (the hole).
19.
to utter, especially softly.
20.
to kiss.
verb (used without object)
Verb phrases 21.
to use the lips in playing a musical wind instrument.
22.
Idioms lip off, Slang. to talk impudently or belligerently.
23.
bite one's lip/tongue, to repress one's anger or other emotions: He wanted to return the insult, but bit his lip.
24.
button one's lip, Slang. to keep silent, especially, to refrain from revealing information: They told him to button his lip if he didn't want trouble. Also, button up.
25.
hang on the lips of, to listen to very attentively: The members of the club hung on the lips of the visiting lecturer.
26.
keep a stiff upper lip,
a.
to face misfortune bravely and resolutely: Throughout the crisis they kept a stiff upper lip.
b.
to suppress the display of any emotion.
27.
smack one's lips, to indicate one's keen enjoyment or pleasurable anticipation of: We smacked our lips over the delicious meal.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English lip(pe), Old English lippa; cognate with Dutch lip, German Lippe; akin to Norwegian lepe, Latin labium
before 1000; Middle English lip(pe), Old English lippa; cognate with Dutch lip, German Lippe; akin to Norwegian lepe, Latin labium
Related forms
lip·less, adjective
lip·like, adjective
out·lip, verb (used with object), out·lipped, out·lip·ping.
un·der·lip, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
lip-
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To lip
Collins
World English Dictionary
lip (lɪp) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | anatomy |
| a. either of the two fleshy folds surrounding the mouth, playing an important role in the production of speech sounds, retaining food in the mouth, etcRelated: labial | |
| b. (as modifier): lip salve | |
| 2. | the corresponding part in animals, esp mammals |
| 3. | any structure resembling a lip, such as the rim of a crater, the margin of a gastropod shell, etc |
| 4. | labium a nontechnical word for labellum |
| 5. | slang impudent talk or backchat |
| 6. | the embouchure and control in the lips needed to blow wind and brass instruments |
| 7. | bite one's lip |
| a. to stifle one's feelings | |
| b. to be annoyed or irritated | |
| 8. | slang button one's lip, button up one's lip to stop talking: often imperative |
| 9. | keep a stiff upper lip to maintain one's courage or composure during a time of trouble without giving way to or revealing one's emotions |
| 10. | lick one's lips, smack one's lips to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish |
| —vb , lips, lipping, lipped | |
| 11. | (tr) to touch with the lip or lips |
| 12. | (tr) to form or be a lip or lips for |
| 13. | rare (tr) to murmur or whisper |
| 14. | (intr) to use the lips in playing a wind instrument |
| Related: labial | |
| [Old English lippa; related to Old High German leffur, Norwegian lepe, Latin labium] | |
| 'lipless | |
| —adj | |
| 'liplike | |
| —adj | |
| lip- | |
| —combining form | |
| a variant of lipo- | |
| lipo- or (before a vowel) lip- | |
| —combining form | |
| fat or fatty: lipoprotein | |
| [from Greek lipos fat] | |
| lip- or (before a vowel) lip- | |
| —combining form | |
| [from Greek lipos fat] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
lip
O.E. lippa, from P.Gmc. *lepjon (cf. O.Fris. lippa, M.Du. lippe, Ger. Lefze, Swed. läpp, Dan. læbe), from PIE *leb- (cf. L. labium). Transferred sense of "edge or margin of a cup, etc." is from 1590s. Slang sense "saucy talk" is from 1821, probably from move the lip (1570s) "utter even the
slightest word (against someone)." To bite (one's) lip "show vexation" is from early 14c. Stiff upper lip as a sign of courage is from 1833. Lip-reading is first attested 1874; lipstick is from 1880; lip gloss from 1939.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
lip (lĭp)
n.
Either of two fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth.
A liplike structure bounding or encircling a bodily cavity or groove.
lip- pref.
Variant of lipo-.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Slang Dictionary
lip definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Easton
Bible Dictionary
Lip definition
besides its literal sense (Isa. 37:29, etc.), is used in the original (saphah) metaphorically for an edge or border, as of a cup (1 Kings 7:26), a garment (Ex. 28:32), a curtain (26:4), the sea (Gen. 22:17), the Jordan (2 Kings 2:13). To "open the lips" is to begin to speak (Job 11:5); to "refrain the lips" is to keep silence (Ps. 40:9; 1 Pet. 3:10). The "fruit of the lips" (Heb. 13:15) is praise, and the "calves of the lips" thank-offerings (Hos. 14:2). To "shoot out the lip" is to manifest scorn and defiance (Ps. 22:7). Many similar forms of expression are found in Scripture.
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
lip
In addition to the idioms beginning with lip, also see button up (one's lip); keep a stiff upper lip; lick one's chops (lips); pass one's lips.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences from the web
Sangfroid cold blood coolness and composure under strain stiff upper lip.
The only giveaway was usually a lip on one of the sides of the desktop.
This lip or edge stopped paper or books from sliding when the surface was given an angle.
Transverse sculpture sculpture parallel to the edge of the outer lip of the aperture.
Slang
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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