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View synonyms for mouth

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
    by word of mouth orally rather than by written means
  16. down in the mouth
    down in the mouthdown at the mouth in low spirits
  17. have a big mouth informal.
    have a big mouthopen one's big mouth to speak indiscreetly, loudly, or excessively
  18. keep one's mouth shut
    keep one's mouth shut to keep a secret
  19. put one's money where one's mouth is
    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
    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.
    run off at the mouth 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

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Derived Forms

  • mouther, noun

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Other Words From

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mouth1

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mouth1

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

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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 .

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Example Sentences

Instead, they should hit you with a raw burst of salt, enough to burn your mouth like sour candy.

From Eater

Consumers will need sufficient information to decide which vaccine to receive, and they should get that information from their physicians, not pharmaceutical ads on television or word of mouth.

From Fortune

Intubation is the process of inserting a tube through a patient’s mouth into their airway.

From Fortune

I think you’ll see some players using a neck gaiter out on the field that they pull up over nose and mouth.

Asking loyal customers to write or record reviews about your company is the best way to grow your company through word of mouth.

And of course, Rod, being Rod, goes for it a hundred percent; his mouth drops open and he says, ‘What?’

But news of the classes is spread mainly by word of mouth, and participants bring along their friends and families.

She has had clients from all over the world, including Ireland and India, who are drawn to her via word of mouth and her website.

The “new civility” promoted by Antoine Courtin expected the mouth to be kept shut when smiling.

During one session, detainee Abu Zubaydah became “completely unresponsive with bubbles rising through his open full mouth.”

Aristide washed and powdered Jean himself, the landlord lounging by, pipe in mouth, administering suggestions.

Sol got up, slowly; took a backward step into the yard; filled his lungs, opened his mouth, made his eyes round.

But such a thing had, nevertheless, come quite glibly out of her mouth, and she knew not why.

Miss Smith immediately rises from the table, puts up her dear little mouth to her papa to be kissed.

The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.

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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.

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