# mouth

Pronunciation: say "MOWTH" /maʊθ/

## Noun

1. The opening in the face of a person or animal through which food is taken in and sounds come out, and the space behind it that holds the tongue and teeth.
   - Simple: The opening in your face and the space behind it, used for eating, drinking and talking.
   - _Don't talk with your mouth full._
   - _She opened her mouth to say something, then changed her mind._
2. The end of a river where its water flows out into a sea, lake, or larger river.
   - Simple: The place where a river meets the sea or flows into a bigger river or lake.
   - _The ferry crosses the wide mouth of the estuary twice a day._
   - _Sediment builds up at the river's mouth, forming a broad delta._
3. Speech or what a person says, especially their manner of speaking, as in word of mouth or a foul mouth.
   - Simple: What a person says, or the way they talk, especially rude or cheeky talk.
4. An outlet, aperture, or other opening through which something passes.
   - Simple: An opening where something goes in or out, like the top of a jar or the front of a cave.
   - _Smoke poured from the mouth of the chimney._
   - _He peered into the dark mouth of the tunnel._
6. Someone viewed simply as another person needing food, especially a family member who depends on others.
   - Simple: A person you have to feed, especially a child or other family member who depends on you.
   - _Her small paycheck had to stretch to one more mouth after her nephew moved in._
   - _The farmer wondered how he would feed so many hungry mouths through a long winter._
7. Insolent or disrespectful speech, especially back talk aimed at a person in authority. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Rude talk, especially when someone answers back to a parent, teacher, or boss.
   - _The sergeant had no patience for mouth from new recruits._
   - _She got detention for giving her math teacher a lot of mouth._
10. A person who talks too much, especially loudly, boastfully, or by spreading gossip. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A person who talks too much, often loudly or about other people's private business.
   - _Don't sit next to Greg on the bus; he's a mouth who never stops talking._
   - _He's a real mouth, drowning out everyone else at the dinner table._
12. The crosspiece of a bridle bit that goes into the animal's mouth.
   - Simple: The part of a bridle bit that goes inside a horse's mouth.
   - _After trying several bits, the rider settled on one with a thick, smooth mouth that her nervous gelding accepted without fuss._
   - _Riders often choose a smooth mouth to be kinder on a sensitive horse._

## Verb

Pronunciation: say "MOWTH" /maʊð/

5. To move the lips or shape words or air with the mouth, with or without sound.
   - Simple: To move the lips, with or without making sound.
   - _Some singers mouth the words along with a recording instead of singing live._
   - _Unable to shout over the loud music, he mouthed 'Let's go' and nodded toward the exit._
8. To say something, especially in a pompous, insincere, or empty way.
   - Simple: To say words, often in a showy way or without really meaning them.
   - _He mouthed empty platitudes throughout the entire meeting._
   - _Critics mouth the same tired complaints year after year._
9. To take, hold, carry, or work something with the mouth or teeth, usually without swallowing it.
   - Simple: To hold, carry, or chew something in your mouth without swallowing it, as babies and dogs do.
   - _The toddler mouthed the wooden block but never tried to chew or swallow it._
   - _Horses sometimes mouth the bit before they settle down._
11. Of a river or stream, to empty out at its mouth into a larger body of water.
   - Simple: Of a river or stream, to flow out and end at its mouth.
   - _The river mouths into the Atlantic near the harbor town._
   - _Tributaries that mouth into the main channel swell it after heavy rain._
13. To form a mouth or opening in something.
   - Simple: To make an opening or mouth in something.
14. To shape or cleanse something with the mouth, the way a bear licks her cub.
   - Simple: To clean or shape something by licking it with the mouth.
15. To examine the teeth of an animal, especially a sheep, to judge its age.
   - Simple: To check an animal's teeth, as a way to judge its age or health.
   - _Experienced graziers mouth ewes before sale to estimate their age._
   - _He mouthed each lamb carefully, noting which teeth had come through._

## Noun

16. A twisted or distorted expression of the face; a grimace. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A twisted or ugly face made on purpose.
17. A person who speaks on behalf of others, voicing the common opinion; a spokesperson. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A person who speaks for a group and says what they all think.

## Verb

Pronunciation: say "MOWTH" /maʊð/

18. To make grimaces or insulting faces at someone in mockery. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To make funny or rude faces at someone.

## Origin

From Middle English mouth, from Old English mūþ, from Proto-Germanic *munþaz ("mouth"), probably from Proto-Indo-European *ment- ("to chew; jaw, mouth"), though the details are disputed. It is related to Dutch mond, German Mund, and Swedish mun, and to Latin mentum ("chin"). The verb comes from the noun.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/mouth (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).