mouthful

[mouth-fool]

noun

plural

mouthfuls 

1. the amount a mouth can hold.

2. the amount taken into the mouth at one time.

3. a small quantity.

4. Informal.,  a spoken remark of great truth, relevance, effectiveness, etc..

   You said a mouthful!

5. a long word or group of words, especially one that is hard to pronounce.

mouthful

/ ˈmaʊθˌfʊl /

noun

1. as much as is held in the mouth at one time

2. a small quantity, as of food

3. a long word or phrase that is difficult to say

4. informal,  an abusive response

5. informal,  an impressive remark (esp in the phrase say a mouthful )

Spelling Note

See -ful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mouthful¹

1375–1425; late Middle English. See mouth, -ful

Idioms and Phrases

see say a mouthful.

Example Sentences

He sits up, lets out a mouthful of dusty spit and starts to cry.

From Los Angeles Times

“I learned that folding the weeds was really helpful before you put them in, because otherwise you get a mouthful of weeds in your face,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Every mouthful should be complex and delicious, whether it’s mostly chicken or mostly filling.

From Salon

Instead, Leigh goes back to one of his favorite filmmaking signatures, a trick that hits like a cartoon piano and leaves the audience with a mouthful of black and white keys for teeth.

From Salon

The creature lifts its head, nearly dainty in scale, and contentedly gnaws a mouthful of ferns.

From Los Angeles Times