lip
noun /lɪp/
/lɪp/
Idioms 
enlarge image[countable] either of the two soft edges at the opening to the mouth- The assistant pursed her lips.
- your upper/lower/top/bottom lip
- on the lips She kissed him on the lips.
- He raised the bottle to his lips and took a large swig from it.
- She always has a cigarette dangling from her lips.
Collocations Physical appearancePhysical appearancesee also cleft lip- A person may be described as having:
- (bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
- deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
- small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
- piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
- bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
- bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
- long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
- a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
- a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
- full/thick/thin/pouty lips
- dry/chapped/cracked lips
- flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
- soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
- white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
- a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
- a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
- a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
- a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache
- pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
- dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
- a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
- deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
- blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(British English) ginger/grey hair
- straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
- thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
- dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
- long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
- a bald/balding/shaved head
- a receding hairline
- a bald patch/spot
- a side/centre(British English) parting
- a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
- broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
- a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
- a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
- a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
- big/wide/narrow/slim hips
- a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
- thin/slender/muscular arms
- big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
- long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
- long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
- muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
- big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
- a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
- be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Extra ExamplesTopics Bodyb1- He bit his lip nervously, trying not to cry.
- He licked his lips hungrily.
- He nervously moistened his lips with his tongue.
- His lips brushed her cheek.
- She had a fat lip and a black eye.
- She has full, pouty lips.
- His lips curled contemptuously.
- She wiped her lips with the back of her hand.
- Their lips met and the kiss was soft.
- There was a slight smile on her lips.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- top
- upper
- bottom
- …
- bite
- chew
- press together
- …
- move
- part
- meet
- …
- around your lip
- round your lip
- between your lip
- …
- -lipped(in adjectives) having the type of lips mentioned
- thin-lipped
- thick-lipped
- [countable] lip (of something) the edge of a container or a hollow place in the ground synonym rim
enlarge image- He ran his finger around the lip of the cup.
- Lava bubbled a few feet below the lip of the crater.
- [uncountable] (informal) words spoken to somebody that are rude and show a lack of respect for that person synonym cheek
- Don't let him give you any lip!
- I’ve just about had enough of your lip!
Word OriginOld English lippa, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lip and German Lippe, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin labia, labra ‘lips’.
Idioms
bite your lip
- to stop yourself from saying something or from showing an emotion
- I bit my lip and forced myself to be calm.
lick/smack your lips
- to move your tongue over your lips, especially before eating something good
- (informal) to show that you are excited about something and want it to happen soon
- They were licking their lips at the thought of clinching the deal.
my lips are sealed
- used to say that you will not repeat somebody’s secret to other people
not pass your lips
- if words do not pass your lips, you say nothing
- if food or drink does not pass your lips, you eat or drink nothing
on everyone’s lips
- if something is on everyone’s lips, they are all talking about it
read my lips
- (informal) used to tell somebody to listen carefully to what you are saying
- Read my lips: no new taxes (= I promise there will be no new taxes).
(keep) a stiff upper lip
- to keep calm and hide your feelings when you are in pain or in a difficult situation
- He was taught to keep a stiff upper lip and never to cry in public.
- Their reaction contrasts sharply with the stiff upper lip of the English.
there’s many a slip ’twixt cup and lip
- (saying) nothing is completely certain until it really happens because things can easily go wrongTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc2