lip

¹ American  

[lip] / lɪp /

noun

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

2. Usually lips these parts as organs of speech.

   I heard it from his own lips.

3. lipstick.

   She usually wears a dramatic red lip.

4. a projecting edge on a container or other hollow object.

   the lip of a pitcher.

5. a liplike part or structure, especially of anatomy.

6. any edge or rim.

7. the edge of an opening or cavity, as of a canyon or a wound.

   the lip of the crater.

8. Slang. impudent talk; back talk.

   Don't give me any of your lip.

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

10. Zoology.

    1. a labium.

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

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

12. the cutting edge of a tool.

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

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

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adjective

1. of or relating to the lips or a lip.

   lip ointment.

2. characterized by or made with the lips.

   to read lip movements.

3. superficial or insincere.

   to offer lip praise.

verb (used with object)

lipped, lipping

1. to touch with the lips.

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

3. to utter, especially softly.

4. to kiss.

verb (used without object)

lipped, lipping

1. to use the lips in playing a musical wind instrument.

verb phrase

1. lip off to talk impudently or belligerently.

idioms

1. hang on the lips of, to listen to very attentively.

   The members of the club hung on the lips of the visiting lecturer.

2. smack one's lips, to indicate one's keen enjoyment or pleasurable anticipation of.

   We smacked our lips over the delicious meal.

3. button one's lip, to keep silent, especially, to refrain from revealing information: Also button up.

   They told him to button his lip if he didn't want trouble.

4. keep a stiff upper lip,

   1. to face misfortune bravely and resolutely.

      Throughout the crisis they kept a stiff upper lip.

   2. to suppress the display of any emotion.

5. bite one's lip / tongue, to repress one's anger or other emotions.

   He wanted to return the insult, but bit his lip.

lip- ² American  

1. variant of lipo- before a vowel.

   lipectomy, libase, lipemia.

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lip ¹ British  

/ lɪp /

noun

1. anatomy

   1. 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

   2. ( as modifier )

      lip salve

2. the corresponding part in animals, esp mammals

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

4. a nontechnical word for labium labellum

5. slang impudent talk or backchat

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

7. 1. to stifle one's feelings

   2. to be annoyed or irritated

8. slang to stop talking: often imperative

9. to maintain one's courage or composure during a time of trouble without giving way to or revealing one's emotions

10. to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish

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verb

1. (tr) to touch with the lip or lips

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

3. rare (tr) to murmur or whisper

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

lip- ² British  

combining form

1. a variant of lipo-

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lip More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing lip

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

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Usage

What does lip- mean? Lip- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “fat.” It is used in many scientific and medical terms. Lip- comes from the Greek lípos, meaning “fat.” It is not related to lip, as in the part of the mouth; that word is actually connected to the combining form labio-. The combining form lip- is also not to be confused with a second sense of lipo- meaning “lacking” or “leaving.”Lip- is a variant of lipo-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use lipo- article. You can also learn about the “lacking” sense of lipo- in this article.

Other Word Forms

• lipless adjective
• liplike adjective
• outlip verb (used with object)
• underlip noun

Etymology

Origin of lip

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

Explanation

Your lips are the external, fleshy part of your mouth. You have a top lip and a bottom lip. Lips are what make kissing possible. Lips are useful when it comes to speaking, eating, and kissing. If you say that something is "on everyone's lips," you mean that it's the topic everyone seems to be talking about lately. If an angry teacher says, "Don't give me any lip!" he means "Don't be a smart mouth," or "Don't be impertinent." When you manage to keep a "stiff upper lip," you stay brave even when things get difficult.

Example Sentences

He ended the exchange by holding a finger to his lip and hissing, “Shhhh!”

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

On Sunday, in blazing sunshine, Gu delivered with panache, posting a best score of 94.75 to dazzle the judges, soaring high above the lip of the halfpipe and executing her tricks with precision.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Malinin was among those in the crowd who gave Liu - the alt girl with her iconic halo hair and lip piercing - a standing ovation as she wrote herself into Olympic folklore.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

But her intensity, whether seated on the lip of the stage, where she begins, or standing in the organ loft where she winds up at the end, spoke for itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Glory bit the inside of her lip and made a thinking sound before answering.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• cheek
• jaw
• mouth