mouth

Less common meanings

6. 6
   nouncountable

   A person you have to feed, especially a child or other family member who depends on you.

   With the new baby, they now have four mouths to feed.

   Every new mouth at the table made money tighter for the family.

   UsageSay another mouth to feed: one more person to feed.

7. 7
   nouncolloquialuncountable

   Rude talk, especially when someone answers back to a parent, teacher, or boss.

   Don't give me any mouth, just go clean your room.

   Mom said there would be no TV if she heard any more mouth from us.

   UsageSay Don't give me any mouth: don't be rude to me.

   Similarlip, cheek, sass

8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To say words, often in a showy way or without really meaning them.

   He mouths kind words, but he never actually helps anyone.

   Politicians mouth promises they rarely intend to keep.

   UsageOften with words, promises or slogans: mouth promises.

   Similarspout, parrot, recite, utter

   Note
9. 9
   verbtransitive

   To hold, carry, or chew something in your mouth without swallowing it, as babies and dogs do.

   Like carrying something in your hands, but using your lips instead.

   The dog gently mouthed the ball, holding it without biting down.

   Puppies often mouth your fingers when they play.

   Note
10. 10
    loud talkernounslangcountable

    A person who talks too much, often loudly or about other people's private business.

    Like a radio that someone left turned up too loud.

    Her brother is such a mouth at parties that no one else gets a word in.

    That mouth in the back row never stops talking.

    Similarchatterbox, windbag, gossip, loudmouth, blabbermouth

    Note
11. 11
    empty intoverbintransitive

    Of a river or stream, to flow out and end at its mouth.

    Like a slide that ends and drops you into the pool.

    The stream mouths into the lake just past the old mill.

    Several creeks mouth into the bay along this stretch of coast.

    Similarempty, flow, drain, discharge

    Note
12. 12
    bridle partnouncountable

    The part of a bridle bit that goes inside a horse's mouth.

    The mouth of this bit is smooth, so it feels gentle on the horse.

    A thicker mouth spreads the pressure more gently across the tongue.

13. 13
    make an openingverbtransitive

    To make an opening or mouth in something.

    The front collar must be mouthed out as shown, to take the second cone on the mandrel.

    1882, Paul Nooncree Hasluck, The Metal Turner's HandbookHere, mouthed out means given a wider opening so something fits in it.

    The cutting edge of a shaving cutter should be mouthed out slightly with a fine oilstone.

    1956, Mechanical World and Engineering Record - Volume 136Here, mouthed out means given a small opening or edge shape with a stone.

    Similarflare, widen

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14. 14
    lick cleanverbtransitive or intransitive

    To clean or shape something by licking it with the mouth.

    Before egg-laying begins, the spawning grounds are mouthed over (cleaned) by both sexes.

    1965, The Aquarist and Pondkeeper - Volumes 30-31Here, mouthed over means cleaned with the mouth, as the fish do.

    Meanwhile she, and the male, mouthed over the inner surface of pot until it was as clean as could be.

    1937, Aquarium Journal - Volume 10, Issue 5Here, mouthed over means cleaned with their mouths until spotless.

    Similarlick

    Note
15. 15
    check teethverbtransitive

    To check an animal's teeth, as a way to judge its age or health.

    Farmers mouth their sheep each year to check the animals' ages.

    The shepherd mouthed every ewe before buying the flock.

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16. 16
    nounobsolete

    A twisted or ugly face made on purpose.

    Counterfeit sad looks, / Make mouths upon me when I turn my back.

    c. 1595, William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”Here, mouths means twisted faces made to mock someone.

    Note
17. 17
    nounobsolete

    A person who speaks for a group and says what they all think.

    Every coffeehouse has some particular statesman belonging to it, who is the mouth of the street where he lives.

    1712, [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “THURSDAY, June 12, 1712”Here, mouth means a spokesman who voices what the whole street thinks.

    Note
18. 18
    verbobsolete

    To make funny or rude faces at someone.

    And that other face -- that awful, gibbering, mouthing face she drew away.

    1873, May Agnes Fleming, A Wonderful WomanHere, mouthing means making ugly, mocking faces.

    The man mouthed at the bars. He was half-mad, I think, in that one minute.

    1906, Bernard Edward Joseph Capes, At a Winter's FireHere, mouthed means made wild, twisted faces.

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