mouth

I. noun (plural mouths) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mūth; akin to Old High German mund mouth and perhaps to Latin mentum chin Date: before 12th century 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 mouth

> c. an individual requiring food <

had too many mouths to feed

> 2. a. voice, speech <

finally gave mouth 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 especially 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 • mouthlike adjective II. Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. speak, pronounce b. to utter bombastically ; declaim c. to repeat without comprehension or sincerity <

always mouthing platitudes

> d. to form soundlessly with the lips <

the librarian mouthed the word “quiet”

> e. to utter indistinctly ; mumble <

mouthed his words

> 2. to take into the mouth; especially eat intransitive verb 1. a. to talk pompously ; rant — often used with off b. to talk insolently or impudently — usually used with off 2. to move the mouth especially so as to make faces • mouther noun