Definition

1. Noun:

   • The opening in the face used for speaking, eating, and breathing: The part of the body containing the lips, teeth, and tongue.
   • The opening or entrance to something hollow or enclosed: The part of a cave, bottle, jar, river, etc., where things enter or exit.
   • A person regarded as needing to be fed: A person, especially a dependent, considered as a consumer of food.
   • Impudent or insolent talk: Disrespectful or rude speech.

2. Verb:

   • To form words with the lips silently: To move the lips as if speaking without making sound.
   • To say something insincerely or without conviction: To utter words in an affected or meaningless way.
   • To touch or take into the mouth: To bring into contact with the mouth.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She opened her mouth to speak.
  • The river widens at its mouth.
  • It's a small business with many mouths to feed.
  • Don't give me any of your mouth!

• Verb:

  • The actor mouthed the words to the song from backstage.
  • He just mouthed empty promises.
  • The puppy mouthed the toy gently.

Advanced Usage

• "To be down in the mouth": To look unhappy or depressed.

  • He's been down in the mouth since he lost his job.

• "To make one's mouth water": To cause someone to feel a strong desire for something, especially food.

  • The smell of baking bread makes my mouth water.

• "To put words into someone's mouth": To falsely claim or suggest that someone has said something.

  • Stop putting words into my mouth; I never said that!

Variants and Related Words

• Mouthful (n): An amount of food or drink that fills the mouth; a long or complicated word or phrase.

  • He took a large mouthful of soup.

• Mouthpiece (n): A part of a musical instrument, telephone, etc., that is placed near or in the mouth; a spokesperson.

  • He is seen as the mouthpiece of the organization.

Synonyms

• Noun: Opening, entrance, aperture, lips, orifice.
• Verb (to form words silently): Lip, mimic.
• Verb (to say insincerely): Parrot, recite.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Mouth off (informal): To talk loudly, angrily, or indiscreetly; to complain or boast.
  • He got in trouble for mouthing off to the teacher.

Related Idioms

• "Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth": Born into a wealthy family.

  • She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and never had to work.

• "Butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth": Used to describe someone who appears innocent or sincere but is not.

  • She looks so sweet, like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

• "Straight from the horse's mouth": Information received directly from the original or most authoritative source.

  • I heard it straight from the horse's mouth that the deal is closed.

Noun

1. the opening of a jar or bottle
   • the jar had a wide mouth
2. an impudent or insolent rejoinder
   • don't give me any of your sass
3. a spokesperson (as a lawyer)
4. a person conceived as a consumer of food
   • he has four mouths to feed
5. the point where a stream issues into a larger body of water
   • New York is at the mouth of the Hudson
6. an opening that resembles a mouth (as of a cave or a gorge)
   • he rode into the mouth of the canyon
   • they built a fire at the mouth of the cave
7. the externally visible part of the oral cavity on the face and the system of organs surrounding the opening
   • she wiped lipstick from her mouth
8. the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
   • he stuffed his mouth with candy

Verb

1. touch with the mouth
2. articulate silently; form words with the lips only
   • She mouthed a swear word
3. express in speech
   • She talks a lot of nonsense
   • This depressed patient does not verbalize