Definition

1. Noun:
   • Either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth: The soft, movable parts forming the upper and lower edges of the opening of the mouth, essential for speech, eating, and facial expression.
   • The edge or rim of an opening or container: The projecting or upper edge of a hollow container or cavity, such as a cup, crater, or wound.
   • Impudent or insolent talk: Disrespectful or rude speech or remarks.
   • A part of a bilabiate corolla or calyx in botany: One of the two parts, often an upper and lower one, of a two-lipped flower structure.
   • The margin of the aperture of a gastropod's shell: The inner or outer edge of the opening of a snail's shell.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Body Part):
  • She bit her lower lip nervously.
  • The cold wind chapped his lips.
• Noun (Edge/Rim):
  • He drank from the lip of the bottle.
  • Lava bubbled at the lip of the volcano.
• Noun (Insolent Talk):
  • Don't give me any of your lip!
  • He's always full of lip when he's angry.

Advanced Usage

• "To pay lip service": To express support or agreement insincerely or without taking meaningful action.
  • The company pays lip service to environmental issues but does nothing concrete.
• "To be on everyone's lips": To be a topic that many people are talking about.
  • The scandal was on everyone's lips for weeks.
• "To lick/smack one's lips": To move one's tongue over one's lips, often in anticipation of something enjoyable.
  • He licked his lips at the sight of the delicious meal.

Variants and Related Words

• Lipless (adj): Without lips.
• Lip-read (verb): To understand speech by watching the movements of a speaker's lips.
• Lip-sync (verb): To move one's lips in synchronization with a pre-recorded soundtrack.

Synonyms

• Rim: The upper or outer edge of something (for the container meaning).
• Impertinence: Lack of respect; rudeness (for the insolent talk meaning).
• Mouth: The opening in the face (related, but not a direct synonym for the fleshy part).

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• Lip off (slang): To speak in a rude or disrespectful way.
  • The student got in trouble for lipping off to the teacher.
• Button one's lip (idiom): To stop talking; to keep a secret.
  • You'd better button your lip about the surprise party.

Related Idioms

• A stiff upper lip: The quality of remaining resolute and unemotional in the face of adversity.
  • He kept a stiff upper lip during the difficult times.
• My lips are sealed: A promise not to reveal a secret.
  • Don't worry, my lips are sealed.
• Read my lips: An emphatic way of telling someone to listen carefully to what you are saying.
  • Read my lips: I am not going to the party.

Noun

1. either the outer margin or the inner margin of the aperture of a gastropod's shell
2. the top edge of a vessel or other container
3. an impudent or insolent rejoinder
   • don't give me any of your sass
4. (botany) either of the two parts of a bilabiate corolla or calyx
5. either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking