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mouth

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Definition of mouth

noun

Pronunciation: /maʊθ/

(plural mouths /maʊðz/)
  • 1the opening and cavity in the lower part of the human face, surrounded by the lips, through which food is taken in and vocal sounds are emitted: Ben stood transfixed with disbelief, his mouth open he leaned over and kissed her on the mouth she could have bitten her tongue the moment the words left her mouth
  • the opening through which an animal takes in food, corresponding to the human mouth: the carp picks up the bait by sucking it into its mouth
  • [usually with adjective] a horse’s readiness to feel and obey the pressure of the bit in its mouth:the horse had a hard mouth
  • the character or quality of a wine as judged by its feel or flavour in the mouth (rather than its aroma).
  • [mass noun] informal talkativeness or impudence:you’ve got more mouth on you than any woman I’ve ever known
  • 2an opening or entrance to a hollow, concave, or enclosed structure:the mouth of a cave
  • the opening for filling or emptying a container:the mouth of the bottle
  • the muzzle of a gun: why would anyone want to be shot out of the mouth of a cannon?
  • the place where a river enters the sea: a pool at the mouth of the river
  • the opening or entrance to a harbour or bay:sand from the beach is silting up the harbour mouth

verb

Pronunciation: /maʊð/

[with object]
  • 1move the lips as if saying (something):she mouthed a silent farewell [with direct speech]:‘Come on,’ he mouthed
  • say (something dull or unoriginal), especially in a pompous or affected way:this clergyman mouths platitudes in breathy, soothing tones
  • utter very clearly and distinctly:she would carefully mouth the right pronunciation
  • 2take in or touch with the mouth:puppies may mouth each other’s collars during play
  • train the mouth of (a horse) so that it responds to a bit: the young horse was being mouthed, or bitted, for the first time

Phrases

a mouth to feed

a person, typically a child, who has to be looked after and fed: how can they afford another mouth to feed?

be all mouth (and no trousers)

informal tend to talk boastfully without any intention of acting on one’s words: he thought Francis was all mouth the company has responded to taunts that it is all mouth and no trousers

give mouth

(of a dog) bark; bay: when the scent is struck, the dogs give mouth

keep one's mouth shut

informal not say anything, especially not reveal a secret:would he keep his mouth shut under interrogation?

open one's mouth

informal say something: sorry, I’ll never open my mouth about you again

watch one's mouth

informal be careful about what one says: you’d better watch your mouth, mate, or we’ll have you

Phrasal Verbs

mouth off

informal talk in an unpleasantly loud and boastful or opinionated way:he was mouthing off about society in general
(mouth off at) loudly criticize or abuse:yesterday an old tramp mouthed off at me outside the supermarket

Derivatives

mouthed

Pronunciation: /maʊðd/

adjective
[in combination]:wide-mouthed

mouther

Pronunciation: /ˈmaʊðə/

noun

mouthless

Pronunciation: /ˈmaʊθlɪs/

adjective

Origin:

Old English mūth, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch mond and German Mund, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin mentum 'chin'

mouth in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of mouth in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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