lip

[ lip ]

/ lɪp /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lip ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

either of the two fleshy parts or folds forming the margins of the mouth and functioning in speech.

Usually lips. these parts as organs of speech: I heard it from his own lips.

a projecting edge on a container or other hollow object: the lip of a pitcher.

a liplike part or structure, especially of anatomy.

any edge or rim.

the edge of an opening or cavity, as of a canyon or a wound: the lip of the crater.

Slang. impudent talk; back talk: Don't give me any of your lip.

Botany. either of the two parts into which the corolla or calyx of certain plants, especially of the mint family, is divided.

Zoology.

a labium.
the outer or the inner margin of the aperture of a gastropod's shell.

Music. the position and arrangement of lips and tongue in playing a wind instrument; embouchure.

the cutting edge of a tool.

the blade, at the end of an auger, which cuts the chip after it has been circumscribed by the spur.

(in a twist drill) the cutting edge at the bottom of each flute.

adjective

of or relating to the lips or a lip: lip ointment.

characterized by or made with the lips: to read lip movements.

superficial or insincere: to offer lip praise.

verb (used with object), lipped, lip·ping.

to touch with the lips.

Golf. to hit the ball over the rim of (the hole).

to utter, especially softly.

to kiss.

verb (used without object), lipped, lip·ping.

to use the lips in playing a musical wind instrument.

Verb Phrases

lip off, Slang. to talk impudently or belligerently.

Nearby words

lionly, lions, lions club, liouville, liouville's theorem, lip, lip gloss, lip microphone, lip molding, lip out, lip reading

Idioms

bite one's lip/tongue, to repress one's anger or other emotions: He wanted to return the insult, but bit his lip.

button one's lip, Slang. to keep silent, especially, to refrain from revealing information: They told him to button his lip if he didn't want trouble.Also button up.

hang on the lips of, to listen to very attentively: The members of the club hung on the lips of the visiting lecturer.

keep a stiff upper lip,

to face misfortune bravely and resolutely: Throughout the crisis they kept a stiff upper lip.
to suppress the display of any emotion.

smack one's lips, to indicate one's keen enjoyment or pleasurable anticipation of: We smacked our lips over the delicious meal.

Origin of lip

before 1000; Middle English lip(pe), Old English lippa; cognate with Dutch lip, German Lippe; akin to Norwegian lepe, Latin labium

Related forms

lip·less, adjectivelip·like, adjectiveout·lip, verb (used with object), out·lipped, out·lip·ping.un·der·lip, noun

Definition for button up (2 of 2)

button

[ buht-n ]

/ ˈbʌt n /

noun

a small disk, knob, or the like for sewing or otherwise attaching to an article, as of clothing, serving as a fastening when passed through a buttonhole or loop.

anything resembling a button, especially in being small and round, as any of various candies, ornaments, tags, identification badges, reflectors, markers, etc.

a badge or emblem bearing a name, slogan, identifying figure, etc., for wear on the lapel, dress, etc.: campaign buttons.

any small knob or disk pressed to activate an electric circuit, release a spring, or otherwise operate or open a machine, small door, toy, etc.

Botany. a bud or other protuberant part of a plant.

Mycology.

a young or undeveloped mushroom.
any protuberant part of a fungus.

Zoology. any of various small parts or structures resembling a button, as the rattle at the tip of the tail in a very young rattlesnake.

Boxing Informal. the point of the chin.

Also called turn button. a fastener for a door, window, etc., having two arms and rotating on a pivot that is attached to the frame.

Metallurgy. (in assaying) a small globule or lump of metal at the bottom of a crucible after fusion.

Fencing. the protective, blunting knob fixed to the point of a foil.

Horology. crown(def 19).

Computers. (in a graphical user interface) a small, button-shaped or clearly defined area that the user can click on or touch to choose an option.

verb (used with object)

to fasten with a button or buttons: She quickly buttoned her coat.

to insert (a button) in a buttonhole or loop: He buttoned the top button of his shirt.

to provide (something) with a button or buttons.

verb (used without object)

to be capable of being buttoned: This coat buttons, but that one zips.

Origin of button

1275–1325; Middle English boto(u)n < Anglo-French: rosehip, button, stud; Middle French boton, equivalent to boter to butt³ + -on noun suffix

Related forms

but·ton·er, nounbut·ton·like, adjectivemis·but·ton, verb (used with object)mis·but·toned, adjective

re·but·ton, verb (used with object)well-but·toned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for button up (1 of 3)

button up

verb (tr, adverb)

to fasten (a garment) with a button or buttons

informal to conclude (business) satisfactorily

buttoned up slang taciturn; silent and somewhat tense

British Dictionary definitions for button up (2 of 3)

button

/ (ˈbʌtən) /

noun

a disc or knob of plastic, wood, etc, attached to a garment, etc, usually for fastening two surfaces together by passing it through a buttonhole or loop

a small round object, such as any of various sweets, decorations, or badges

a small disc that completes an electric circuit when pushed, as one that operates a doorbell or machine

a symbolic representation of a button on the screen of a computer that is notionally depressed by manipulating the mouse to initiate an action

biology any rounded knoblike part or organ, such as an unripe mushroom

fencing the protective knob fixed to the point of a foil

a small amount of metal, usually lead, with which gold or silver is fused, thus concentrating it during assaying

the piece of a weld that pulls out during the destructive testing of spot welds

rowing a projection around the loom of an oar that prevents it slipping through the rowlock

British an object of no value (esp in the phrase not worth a button)

slang intellect; mental capacity (in such phrases as a button short, to have all one's buttons, etc)

on the button informal exactly; precisely

verb

to fasten with a button or buttons

(tr) to provide with buttons

(tr) fencing to hit (an opponent) with the button of one's foil

button one's lip, button up one's lip, button one's mouth or button up one's mouth to stop talking: often imperative

Derived Forms

buttoner, nounbuttonless, adjectivebuttony, adjective

Word Origin for button

C14: from Old French boton, from boter to thrust, butt, of Germanic origin; see butt ³

British Dictionary definitions for button up (3 of 3)

lip

/ (lɪp) /

noun

anatomy

either of the two fleshy folds surrounding the mouth, playing an important role in the production of speech sounds, retaining food in the mouth, etcRelated adjective: labial
(as modifier)lip salve

the corresponding part in animals, esp mammals

any structure resembling a lip, such as the rim of a crater, the margin of a gastropod shell, etc

a nontechnical word for labium, labellum (def. 1)

slang impudent talk or backchat

the embouchure and control in the lips needed to blow wind and brass instruments

bite one's lip

to stifle one's feelings
to be annoyed or irritated

button one's lip or button up one's lip slang to stop talking: often imperative

keep a stiff upper lip to maintain one's courage or composure during a time of trouble without giving way to or revealing one's emotions

lick one's lips or smack one's lips to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish

verb lips, lipping or lipped

(tr) to touch with the lip or lips

(tr) to form or be a lip or lips for

(tr) rare to murmur or whisper

(intr) to use the lips in playing a wind instrument

Derived Forms

lipless, adjectiveliplike, adjective

Word Origin for lip

Old English lippa; related to Old High German leffur, Norwegian lepe, Latin labium

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for button up (1 of 2)

lip

[ lĭp ]

n.

Either of two fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth.

A liplike structure bounding or encircling a bodily cavity or groove.

Medicine definitions for button up (2 of 2)

button

[ bŭt′n ]

n.

A knoblike structure, device, or lesion.

Idioms and Phrases with button up (1 of 3)

button up

Close securely, fasten, as in The house was all buttoned up, or Button up your coat—it's very cold. [Late 1500s]

Also, button one's lip. Hold one's tongue, keep quiet. For example, Please button your lip about the surprise. A variant of this usage, button one's mouth, dates from the 17th century. [Mid-1800s]

Finish successfully, as in I've got this report all buttoned up. [c. 1940]

Idioms and Phrases with button up (2 of 3)

button

In addition to the idioms beginning with button

button one's lip
button up

also see:

cute as a button
have all one's buttons
on the button
push (press) someone's buttons
push the panic button

Idioms and Phrases with button up (3 of 3)

lip

In addition to the idioms beginning with lip

lips are sealed, one's
lip service

also see:

button up (one's lip)
keep a stiff upper lip
lick one's chops (lips)
pass one's lips