[mouth] n, pl mouths often attrib [ME, fr. OE muth; akin to OHG mund mouth and perh. to L mentum chin] (bef. 12c) 1 a: the natural opening through which food passes into the body of an animal and which in vertebrates is typically bounded externally by the lips and internally by the pharynx and encloses the tongue, gums, and teeth b: grimace "made a ~" c: an individual requiring food "had too many ~s to feed"
2. a: voice, speech "finally gave ~ to her feelings" b: mouthpiece 3a c (1): a tendency to excessive talk (2): saucy or disrespectful language: impudence
3: something that resembles a mouth esp. in affording entrance or exit: as a: the place where a stream enters a larger body of water b: the surface opening of an underground cavity c: the opening of a container d: an opening in the side of an organ flue pipe -- mouth.like adj -- down in the mouth : dejected, sulky
[2]mouth vt (14c) 1 a: speak, pronounce b: to utter bombastically: declaim c: to repeat without comprehension or sincerity "always ~ing platitudes" d: to form soundlessly with the lips "the librarian ~ed the word "quiet"" e: to utter indistinctly: mumble "~ed his words"
2: to take into the mouth; esp: eat ~ vi 1 a: to talk pompously: rant--often used with off b: to talk insolently or impudently--usu. used with off
2: to move the mouth esp. so as to make faces -- mouth.er n