Definition

Adjective 1. Having a narrow mouth or opening: Describes an object, container, or organism whose mouth or opening is not wide; characterized by a constricted aperture.

Examples

• The archaeologist carefully excavated the narrow-mouthed vase, designed to preserve its precious contents.
• Many species of narrow-mouthed frogs are adapted to eat small insects like ants and termites.
• For this experiment, you will need a narrow-mouthed flask to control the release of gas.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in technical, scientific, or descriptive contexts, such as in biology (to describe animal anatomy), chemistry (to describe lab equipment), and archaeology/art (to describe vessels).
• It can be used metaphorically to describe something that is restrictive or limited in its capacity to accept input, though this is less common.
  • The committee was criticized for its narrow-mouthed approach to public feedback.

Variants and Related Words

• Narrow-mouth (noun, often used attributively): Can function as a compound noun, e.g., "a narrow-mouth jar" or "the narrow-mouth of the bottle."
• Wide-mouthed (adjective): The direct antonym, meaning having a wide mouth or opening.

Synonyms

• Small-mouthed
• Constricted
• Tapered (when describing a shape that narrows to an opening)

Antonyms

• Wide-mouthed
• Broad-mouthed
• Flared

Related Phrases

• Narrow-necked: Similar in meaning but specifically refers to the neck of a vessel (e.g., a bottle) rather than its mouth, though they are often used interchangeably for containers.
• Narrow aperture: A more general technical term for a small opening.

Adjective

1. having a narrow mouth