lip

 
Pronunciation: /lɪp/

noun

  • 1either of the two fleshy parts which form the upper and lower edges of the opening of the mouth: he kissed her on the lips
  • (lips) used to refer to a person’s speech or to current topics of conversation: downsizing is on everyone’s lips at the moment
  • another term for labium (sense 1), labium (sense 2).
  • 2the edge of a hollow container or an opening: the lip of the cup
  • a rounded, raised, or extended piece along an edge: the cockpit is protected by a lip extending from the roof
  • 3 [mass noun] informal insolent or impertinent talk: don’t give me any of your lip!

verb (lips, lipping, lipped)

[with object]
  • 1(of water) lap against: beaches lipped by the surf rimming the Pacific
  • 2 Golf (of the ball) hit the rim of (a hole) but fail to go in: Norman’s putt lipped the hole and spun out

Phrases

curl one's lip

raise a corner of one’s upper lip to show contempt; sneer.

lick one's lips

look forward to something with relish.

my (or his etc.) lips are sealed

see seal1.

pass one's lips

be eaten, drunk, or spoken: not a drop of alcohol had passed her lips

pay lip service to

express approval of or support for (something) insincerely or without taking any significant action: they pay lip service to equality but they don’t want to do anything about it

Derivatives

lipless

adjective

lip-like

adjective

lipped

adjective
[in combination]: her pale-lipped mouth

Origin:

Old English lippa, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lip and German Lippe, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin labia, labra 'lips'