noun , verb
■ noun
/ maʊθ; NAmE / ( pl. mouths / maʊðz; NAmE /)
PART OF FACE
1.
the opening in the face used for speaking, eating, etc.; the area inside the head behind this opening :
She opened her mouth to say something.
His mouth twisted into a wry smile.
Their mouths fell open (= they were surprised) .
Don't talk with your mouth full (= when eating) .
The creature was foaming at the mouth .
—see also foot-and-mouth disease
PERSON NEEDING FOOD
2.
a person considered only as sb who needs to be provided with food :
Now there would be another mouth to feed .
The world will not be able to support all these extra hungry mouths .
ENTRANCE / OPENING
3.
mouth (of sth) the entrance or opening of sth :
the mouth of a cave / pit
—see also goalmouth
OF RIVER
4.
the place where a river joins the sea
WAY OF SPEAKING
5.
a particular way of speaking :
He has a foul mouth on him!
Watch your mouth! (= stop saying things that are rude and / or offensive)
—see also loudmouth
-MOUTHED
6.
(in adjectives) having the type or shape of mouth mentioned :
a wide-mouthed old woman
a narrow-mouthed cave
—see also open-mouthed
7.
(in adjectives) having a particular way of speaking :
a rather crude-mouthed individual
—see also foul-mouthed , mealy-mouthed
•
IDIOMS
- be all mouth
- down in the mouth
- keep your mouth shut
- out of the mouths of babes (and sucklings)
- run off at the mouth
—more at big adjective , born , bread , butter noun , foam verb , foot noun , gift , heart , horse noun , live (I), melt , money , shoot verb , shut verb , taste noun , watch verb , word noun
■ verb / maʊð/
1.
to move your lips as if you were saying sth, but without making a sound :
[ vn ]
He mouthed a few obscenities at us and then moved off.
[also v speech ]
2.
( disapproving ) to say sth that you do not really feel, believe or understand :
[ vn ]
They're just mouthing empty slogans.
[also v speech ]
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- mouth off (at / about sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English mūth , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch mond and German Mund , from an Indo-European root shared by Latin mentum chin.