noun | verb
mouthmouth1 /maʊθ/ ●●● S1 W2 noun (plural mouths /maʊðz/) [countable] 1
FACE science, biology the part of your face that you put food into, or that you use for speaking: Babies put everything into their mouths. Don’t talk with your mouth full (=with food in your mouth)! The lion opened its mouth in a huge yawn. I burned the roof of my mouth (=the top part of the inside of my mouth).in your mouth The woman had a cigarette in her mouth. Helen wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin.2keep your mouth shut informal a)to not say something even if you think it because you might annoy or upset someone: He just doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. b)to not tell other people about a secret: You’d better keep your mouth shut about this.3open your mouth to prepare or start to speak, especially in a situation where you feel you should not say anything: “I’ll go,” Travis said quickly before she could open her mouth. I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth (=said something I should not have). → see also shut your mouth at shut1 (3)4come out of somebody’s mouth spoken to be said by someone: You just never know what’s going to come out of her mouth.5ENTRANCE the entrance to a large hole or cave: As the train entered the mouth of the tunnel, the lights came on.6RIVER earth science, geography the part of a river where it joins the ocean: mouth of There was a fishing village at the mouth of the river.7BOTTLE/CONTAINER the open part at the top of a bottle or container8make somebody’s mouth water if food makes your mouth water, it looks so good you want to eat it immediately → see also mouth-watering9a mouth to feed someone who you must provide food for, especially one of your children: We just couldn’t afford another mouth to feed.10out of the mouths of babes humorous used when a small child has just said something intelligent or interesting[Origin: Old English muth] → see also big mouth at big (12), bigmouth, be down in the dumps/mouth at down3 (1), foam at the mouth at foam2 (2), put your foot in your mouth at foot1 (13), have a foul mouth at foul1 (4), hand to mouth, loudmouth, -mouthed, shoot your mouth off at shoot1 (15), shut your mouth/trap/face! at shut1 (3), by word of mouth at word1 (31)COLLOCATIONSverbsopen your mouth He opened his mouth wide so the doctor could examine his throat.shut/close your mouth Close your mouth when you chew, please, Michael.cover your mouth She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.wipe your mouth He laid down his fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin.kiss somebody on the mouth She walked boldly up to him and kissed him on the mouth.somebody’s mouth falls/drops open (=opens in surprise) “Me?” she said, her mouth dropping open.somebody’s mouth waters (=liquid comes into it because someone smells or sees food) My mouth started watering when I saw the homemade cakes.somebody’s mouth twitches (=moves slightly) His mouth twitched, and I could tell he was trying not to laugh.adjectivesa big mouth She has brown hair, a big mouth, and freckles.a small mouth Katie stared at him, her small mouth half open.a wide mouth (=a large mouth) He had a large nose and a wide mouth.a rosebud mouth (=a small round mouth, especially a girl's or baby’s mouth) The little girl had blonde curls and a rosebud mouth.a gaping mouth (=one that is opened wide) The bird dropped food into the gaping mouths of the baby birds.with your mouth full (=with food in your mouth) Don’t talk with your mouth full.with your mouth open He chews with his mouth open.(with your) mouth agape written (=with your mouth open in surprise) She stared at him, mouth agape.somebody’s mouth is dry (=feels dry when you are nervous) noun | verb
mouthmouth2 /maʊð/ verb [transitive] 1to move your lips as if you are saying words, but without making any sound: Dana mouthed, “I’m bored,” from across the classroom.2to say things that you do not really believe or that you do not understand: The men spent years mouthing the Communist party line.mouth off phrasal verb informal to speak in an angry or impolite way to someone: mouth off to/at She was suspended for mouthing off to teachers.