muzzle
Americannoun
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the mouth, or end for discharge, of the barrel of a gun, pistol, etc.
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the projecting part of the head of an animal, including jaws, mouth, and nose.
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a device, usually an arrangement of straps or wires, placed over an animal's mouth to prevent the animal from biting, eating, etc.
verb (used with object)
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to put a muzzle on (an animal or its mouth) so as to prevent biting, eating, etc.
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to restrain from speech, the expression of opinion, etc..
The censors muzzled the press.
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Nautical. to attach the cable to the stock of (an anchor) by means of a light line to permit the anchor to be pulled loose readily.
noun
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the projecting part of the face, usually the jaws and nose, of animals such as the dog and horse
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a guard or strap fitted over an animal's nose and jaws to prevent it biting or eating
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the front end of a gun barrel
verb
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to prevent from being heard or noticed
to muzzle the press
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to put a muzzle on (an animal)
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to take in (a sail)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have muzzledperfect
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has muzzledperfect 3rd person singular
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has been muzzlingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been muzzlingperfect progressive
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are muzzlingprogressive
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is muzzlingprogressive 3rd person singular
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muzzlessingular 3rd person
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am muzzlingprogressive 1st person singular
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muzzlingparticiple
Past
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had muzzledperfect
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muzzledparticiple
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muzzledsimple
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were muzzlingprogressive plural
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was muzzlingprogressive singular
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had been muzzlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of muzzle
1350–1400; Middle English musel < Middle French < Medieval Latin mūsellum, diminutive of mūsum snout < ?
Explanation
A muzzle is a guard that covers an animal's mouth to keep it from biting. If your dog is aggressive, you might have to put a muzzle on her when you take her to the dog park. Muzzle comes from the Latin morsus meaning "bite." A muzzle is the nose and mouth of an animal like a cat or dog. It's also the name for a guard made of straps or wire that's worn over this part of an animal's face to keep it from biting. It's the mouth of a gun, too. If you muzzle someone, you gag him to prevent him from speaking.
Vocabulary lists containing muzzle
Of Mice and Men
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
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"The Highwayman"
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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.
Muzzle flashes and sounds are added in post-production.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2023
“The 58 caliber is about 30-foot long. It has a bigger chamber, which allows for a different propellant and different breech. Muzzle velocity is generated through the length of the tube,” Rafferty said.
From Fox News • May 28, 2020
Several of Muzzle winners fall into that theme, the center said.
From Washington Times • May 6, 2018
Muzzle of a musk ox infected with parapoxvirus.
From Nature • Mar. 28, 2017
He cast his small eyes, first on Mr. Weller, and then on Mr. Muzzle, but said nothing.
From The Pickwick Papers by Dickens, Charles
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.
