mouth
Americannoun
plural
mouths-
Anatomy, Zoology.
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the opening through which an animal or human takes in food.
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the cavity containing the structures used in mastication.
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the structures enclosing or being within this cavity, considered as a whole.
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the masticating and tasting apparatus.
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a person or animal dependent on someone for sustenance.
another mouth to feed.
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the oral opening or cavity considered as the source of vocal utterance.
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utterance or expression.
to give mouth to one's thoughts.
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talk, especially loud, empty, or boastful talk.
That man is all mouth.
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disrespectful talk or language; back talk; impudence.
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a grimace made with the lips.
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an opening leading out of or into any cavity or hollow place or thing.
the mouth of a cave; a bottle's mouth.
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the outfall at the lower end of a river or stream, where flowing water is discharged, as into a lake, sea, or ocean.
the mouth of the Nile.
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the opening between the jaws of a vise or the like.
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the lateral hole of an organ pipe.
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the lateral blowhole of a flute.
verb (used with object)
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to utter in a sonorous or pompous manner, or with excessive mouth movements.
to mouth a speech.
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to form (a word, sound, etc.) with the lips without actually making an utterance.
She silently mouthed her answer so as not to wake her napping child.
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to utter or pronounce softly and indistinctly; mumble.
Stop mouthing your words and speak up.
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to put or take into the mouth, as food.
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to press, rub, or chew at with the mouth or lips.
The dog mouthed the toys.
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to accustom (a horse) to the use of the bit and bridle.
verb (used without object)
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to speak sonorously and oratorically, or with excessive mouth movement.
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to grimace with the lips.
verb phrase
idioms
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run off at the mouth, to talk incessantly or indiscreetly.
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talk out of both sides of one's mouth, to make contradictory or untruthful statements.
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down in / at the mouth, dejected; depressed; disheartened.
Ever since he lost his job, he has been looking very down in the mouth.
noun
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the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds
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the system of organs surrounding this opening, including the lips, tongue, teeth, etc
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the visible part of the lips on the face
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a person regarded as a consumer of food
four mouths to feed
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verbal expression (esp in the phrase give mouth to )
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a particular manner of speaking
a foul mouth
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informal boastful, rude, or excessive talk
he is all mouth
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the point where a river issues into a sea or lake
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the opening of a container, such as a jar
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the opening of or place leading into a cave, tunnel, volcano, etc
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that part of the inner lip of a horse on which the bit acts, esp when specified as to sensitivity
a hard mouth
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music the narrow slit in an organ pipe
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the opening between the jaws of a vice or other gripping device
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a pout; grimace
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orally rather than by written means
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in low spirits
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informal to speak indiscreetly, loudly, or excessively
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to keep a secret
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to take appropriate action to support what one has said
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to represent, often inaccurately, what someone has said
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to tell someone what to say
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informal to talk incessantly, esp about unimportant matters
verb
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to speak or say (something) insincerely, esp in public
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(tr) to form (words) with movements of the lips but without speaking
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(tr) to accustom (a horse) to wearing a bit
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(tr) to take (something) into the mouth or to move (something) around inside the mouth
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to make a grimace
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mouth
before 900; Middle English; Old English mūth; cognate with German Mund, Old Norse munnr
Explanation
There are many meanings of mouth, but they all relate to the hole from which you eat, speak, and breathe. Like the mouth below your nose, other mouths are openings or have something to do with speaking. The opening at the top of a jar or bottle is its mouth. The place where a river meets the ocean is the mouth of the river. It’s called mouthing off when you give someone lip or sass. You can mouth the words to a song without singing them. A mouth (or mouthpiece) is someone who speaks for other people, like a lawyer.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They are all about $10 to $15 and involve pushing medicine into your baby’s mouth via a small hole in the paci, more or less completely removing the struggle.
From Slate • May 17, 2026
"When an opportunity came along to curate a collection of essays, the first word that just fell out of my mouth was 'class'," she said.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
There’s also a community of green sea turtles living in a brackish area near the mouth of the San Gabriel River — something many Angelenos are unaware of.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
"This is about putting our money where our mouth is," he told his colleagues.
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
Sela opened her mouth and closed it, put down the bag, and reached up to the back of her head.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
