mouth

noun, often attributive \ ˈmau̇th \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of mouth

plural mouths play \ˈmau̇t͟hz also ˈmau̇z, ˈmau̇ths; in synecdochic compounds like "blabbermouths" thsmore frequently\

1 a : the natural opening through which food passes into the body of an animal and which in vertebrates is typically bounded externally by the lips and internally by the pharynx and encloses the tongue, gums, and teeth

b : grimace

made a mouth

c : an individual requiring food

had too many mouths to feed

2 a : voice, speech

finally gave mouth to her feelings

b : mouthpiece 3a

he is the mouth … of the House in its relations with the Crown
—T. E. May

c (1) : a tendency to excessive talk

he is not all mouth … he gets results
—Time

(2) : saucy or disrespectful language : impudence

just don't take any mouth from him
—Jackson Burgess

3 : something that resembles a mouth especially in affording entrance or exit: such as

a : the place where a stream enters a larger body of water

b : the surface opening of an underground cavity (see cavity 1)

the mouth of a well

the mouth of a volcano

c : the opening of a container

the mouth of a bottle

d : an opening in the side of an organ flue pipe

—

mouthlike

play \ˈmau̇th-ˌlīk\ adjective

— down in the mouth

: dejected, sulky

See mouth defined for English-language learners

See mouth defined for kids

Examples of mouth in a Sentence

He kissed her on the mouth.
He threatened to punch me in the mouth.
She stood there with her mouth agape.
I burned the roof of my mouth.
They told him to keep his mouth closed when chewing and not to talk with his mouth full.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin after eating.
She regretted saying it as soon as the words were out of her mouth.
The smell of the food made my mouth water.
The candy melts in your mouth.
The medication is taken by mouth.

Recent Examples of mouth from the Web

Some of the footage showed piles of bodies inside homes or slumped in concrete stairwells, foam visible on their noses and mouths.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Dozens reportedly killed in apparent chemical attack in Syria," 8 Apr. 2018
Officers arrived to find the man holding a can of compressed air to his mouth.

— bruce geiselman, cleveland.com, "Shoplifting suspect uses pepper spray on store security officer: North Olmsted police blotter," 7 Apr. 2018
From Germs to Juggling Opening Friday, April 13 Study bacteria from your nose and mouth up close, go stargazing, and much more at the Cambridge Science Festival, which focuses on hands-on activities.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Five things to do the week of April 9-15," 6 Apr. 2018
Wash your hands after using the restroom, before and after preparing food and after touching your nose or mouth.

— anne saker, Cincinnati.com, "We’re almost done with a brutal flu season. Get ready now for next year.," 2 Apr. 2018
Measles is transmitted by airborne droplets produced during coughing or sneezing, or via direct contact with secretions from the nose, mouth and throat of infected people.

— NBC News, "What are the measles? What you need to know," 2 Apr. 2018
Make short, feathery strokes from your hairline toward the center of your face, avoiding (sorry, sometimes the obvious must be stated) your brows, eyes, nose, and mouth.

— sarah kinonen, Allure, "Why Dermaplaning Is So Much More Than Shaving Your Face," 29 Mar. 2018
Washing your hands frequently, of course, is also critical for staying healthy, since touching infected fingers to the eyes, nose or mouth can transmit infection.

— richard klasco, m.d., New York Times, "Do Face Masks Really Keep You Healthy?," 23 Mar. 2018
The masks have a new design that covers the entire face, allowing snorkelers to breathe out of their nose and mouth, unlike the traditional two-piece snorkel equipment.

— CBS News, "Rising popularity of full-face snorkel masks raise safety concerns," 14 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mouth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of mouth

Middle English, from Old English mūth; akin to Old High German mund mouth and perhaps to Latin mentum chin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

mouth Synonyms

Synonyms

back talk, backchat, cheek, impertinence, impudence, insolence, sass, sauce;

Near Antonyms

civility, cordiality, courtesy, diplomacy, politeness, tactfulness;

consideration, gallantry, gentility, graciousness, smoothness, suaveness, suavity;

deference, respect;

affability;

cuteness, discourtesy, disrespect, guff, impoliteness, nonsense, rudeness, tactlessness;

audaciousness, audacity, boldness, brazenness;

coarseness, crassness, crudity, vulgarity;

abruptness, bluffness, bluntness, brusqueness, crossness, curtness, gruffness, surliness;

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

mouth

verb \ ˈmau̇t͟h also ˈmau̇th \

Definition of mouth

transitive verb

1 a : speak, pronounce

b : to utter bombastically : declaim

c : to repeat without comprehension or sincerity

always mouthing platitudes

d : to form soundlessly with the lips

the librarian mouthed the word "quiet"

e : to utter indistinctly : mumble

mouthed his words

2 : to take into the mouth; especially : eat

intransitive verb

1 a : to talk pompously : rant —often used with off

b : to talk insolently or impudently —usually used with off

2 : to move the mouth especially so as to make faces

—

mouther

noun

See mouth defined for English-language learners

Examples of mouth in a Sentence

She was just mouthing the usual meaningless platitudes about the need for reform.
silently mouthing the words to a song

Recent Examples of mouth from the Web

Or why the colonel conducting the ceremony allowed her to do so, stifling his laughter as the puppet mouthed the oath.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "She wore a dinosaur puppet during a military oath. It got her and a colonel removed from the job," 19 Apr. 2018
Ortega mouthed words, gestured, and pointed at an alphabet board; Hidalgo wrote down her words, sometimes showing his notes to her for confirmation.

— maureen o'connor, The Cut, "Video Shows Nanny in Murder Trial Denying Hallucinations," 12 Apr. 2018
At the end of their caucus forum, McCready mouthed something to Cano as the two shook hands.

— jim morrill, charlotteobserver, "Candidate accuses ex-Marine of 'cowardice' as NC Congressional primary gets personal | Charlotte Observer," 6 Apr. 2018
And critics who have bad-mouthed the teens on the Internet or the airwaves have found their own vitriol turned back on them by people sympathetic to the plight of students who became activists after seeing their classmates and educators slaughtered.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Republican who called Parkland teen a ‘skinhead lesbian’ drops out of Maine House race," 17 Mar. 2018
Bad press and bad-mouthing from politicians isn’t helping, analysts say.

— NBC News, "Tech sector's woes create ripple effects across the market," 30 Mar. 2018
Hannah turned up the volume, dropped down on the couch and mouthed the words.

— jessica contrera, Washington Post, "‘I would rather not be alone.’ Behind their anger, Florida students are still teens struggling with trauma.," 20 Feb. 2018
And critics who have bad-mouthed the teens on the internet or the airwaves have found that vitriol turned back on them by people sympathetic to the plight of students who became activists after seeing their classmates and teachers slaughtered.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Republican who called Parkland teen a 'skinhead lesbian' drops out of Maine House race," 18 Mar. 2018
Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage mouthed the words to a Busta Rhymes song, while Morgan Freeman rapped along to Missy Elliott, in a promotion for PepsiCo’s Doritos and Mountain Dew.

— Fortune, "These Super Bowl Advertisers Were The Other Big Winners in the Eagles' First Championship," 5 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of mouth

see ¹mouth

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

mouth Synonyms

MOUTH Defined for English Language Learners

mouth

noun

Definition of mouth for English Language Learners

: the opening through which food passes into the body : the part of the face that includes the lips and the opening behind them
: an opening in something
: the place where a river enters the ocean

mouth

verb

Definition of mouth for English Language Learners

: to say or repeat (something) without really meaning it or understanding it
: to form (words) with your lips without speaking

MOUTH Defined for Kids

mouth

noun \ ˈmau̇th \

Definition of mouth for Students

plural mouths \ˈmau̇t͟hz, ˈmau̇ths\

1 : the opening through which food passes into the body and which in humans is surrounded on the outside by the lips and contains the tongue and teeth

2 : an opening that is like a mouth

There was a butcher who worked in the mouth of a narrow alley.
—Laurence Yep, Dragonwings

3 : the place where a stream enters a larger body of water

mouth

verb \ ˈmau̇t͟h \

Definition of mouth for Students

mouthed; mouthing

1 : to form with the lips without speaking

The librarian mouthed “quiet.”

2 : to repeat without being sincere or without understanding

Salesmen mouthed meaningless slogans.

Medical Dictionary

mouth

noun \ ˈmau̇th \

medical Definition of mouth

plural mouths play \ˈmau̇t͟hz\

: the natural opening through which food passes into the animal body and which in vertebrates is typically bounded externally by the lips and internally by the pharynx and encloses the tongue, gums, and teeth