lip
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.
lipstick: She usually wears a dramatic red lip.
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.
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.
to touch with the lips.
Golf. to hit the ball over the rim of (the hole).
to utter, especially softly.
to kiss.
to use the lips in playing a musical wind instrument.
lip off, Slang. to talk impudently or belligerently.
Idioms about lip
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
1Other words from lip
- lip·less, adjective
- lip·like, adjective
- out·lip, verb (used with object), out·lipped, out·lip·ping.
- un·der·lip, noun
Words Nearby lip
Other definitions for lip- (2 of 2)
variant of lipo-1 before a vowel: lipectomy, libase, lipemia.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use lip in a sentence
The musician blew into the broken tip, or apex, of the shell and vibrated his lips as if he were playing a trumpet or trombone.
Listen to haunting notes from an 18,000-year-old conch shell trumpet | Kiona N. Smith | February 12, 2021 | Ars TechnicaThe lone crew member waved us forward with a cigarette between his lips, and 10 minutes later, Loni Jo pushed off the banks with just four other cars on board.
A day’s drive from Chicago, exploring a very different Illinois | Carson Vaughan | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostWhile the prints and photographs in the Washington Printmakers Gallery exhibition are energized by the hot hue, not every artist can render fresh such familiar embodiments of redness as a rose, a firetruck or a pair of lips.
In the galleries: Rejuvenating the obsolete into unconventional art | Mark Jenkins | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostDoing so makes the speaker larger and easier for people to see and read their lips.
Online classes are difficult for the hard of hearing. Here’s how to fix that. | Eli Reiter | February 9, 2021 | Popular-ScienceGiven that he had already moved his ball, though, the official he called over was left to feel around the spot where Reed said it landed and confirm that there did appear to be “a lip,” which would indicate broken ground.
Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed situations now appear very different with new information from PGA Tour | Des Bieler | February 4, 2021 | Washington Post
Ney said McDonnell needs to “keep a stiff lip” and stay in close contact with family members.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv | Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTShe narrowed her eyes, bit her lip as if to chew over the question, and whisked some stray blond hairs away from her face.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe higher your score, the more likely it is that you can lip-sync along to the “Checkers” Speech.
If only Sulzberger had managed to keep a zipped upper lip while leaving the dirty work to anonymous underlings.
Earlier in the year, TMZ alleged, citing a police report, that a hotel room spat between the two left Nicki with a busted lip.
Nicki Minaj Bares Her Own Vulnerability on ‘The Pinkprint’ | Rawiya Kameir | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe paled a little, and sucked his lip, his eyes wandering to the girl, who stood in stolid inapprehension of what was being said.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniThe eyebrows were low and thick, the upper lip was sensitive, quivering sometimes as she talked, but the lower was firm and full.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonZe under lip rather retires, and this adds to the receding effect of the chin, you see.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuLouis turned at the exclamation, and looked on the faithful servant; but no tear was in his eye, no sound on his lip.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterA huge piece of black court plaister hid the wound on his swollen lip, a cup of tisane stood upon the table.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
British Dictionary definitions for lip (1 of 2)
/ (lɪp) /
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, etc: Related 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
(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
Origin of lip
1- See also lip out
Derived forms of lip
- lipless, adjective
- liplike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for lip- (2 of 2)
a variant of lipo-
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with 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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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