lip

[lip] /lɪp/
noun
1.
either of the two fleshy parts or folds forming the margins of the mouth and functioning in speech.
2.
Usually, lips. these parts as organs of speech:
I heard it from his own lips.
3.
a projecting edge on a container or other hollow object:
the lip of a pitcher.
4.
a liplike part or structure, especially of anatomy.
5.
any edge or rim.
6.
the edge of an opening or cavity, as of a canyon or a wound:
the lip of the crater.
7.
Slang. impudent talk; back talk:
Don't give me any of your lip.
8.
Botany. either of the two parts into which the corolla or calyx of certain plants, especially of the mint family, is divided.
9.
Zoology.
  1. a labium.
  2. the outer or the inner margin of the aperture of a gastropod's shell.
10.
Music. the position and arrangement of lips and tongue in playing a wind instrument; embouchure.
11.
the cutting edge of a tool.
12.
the blade, at the end of an auger, which cuts the chip after it has been circumscribed by the spur.
13.
(in a twist drill) the cutting edge at the bottom of each flute.
adjective
14.
of or pertaining to the lips or a lip:
lip ointment.
15.
characterized by or made with the lips:
to read lip movements.
16.
superficial or insincere:
to offer lip praise.
verb (used with object), lipped, lipping.
17.
to touch with the lips.
18.
Golf. to hit the ball over the rim of (the hole).
19.
to utter, especially softly.
20.
to kiss.
verb (used without object), lipped, lipping.
21.
to use the lips in playing a musical wind instrument.
Verb phrases
22.
lip off, Slang. to talk impudently or belligerently.
Idioms
23.
bite one's lip / tongue, to repress one's anger or other emotions:
He wanted to return the insult, but bit his lip.
24.
button one's lip, Slang. to keep silent, especially, to refrain from revealing information:
They told him to button his lip if he didn't want trouble.
Also, button up.
25.
hang on the lips of, to listen to very attentively:
The members of the club hung on the lips of the visiting lecturer.
26.
keep a stiff upper lip,
  1. to face misfortune bravely and resolutely:
    Throughout the crisis they kept a stiff upper lip.
  2. to suppress the display of any emotion.
27.
smack one's lips, to indicate one's keen enjoyment or pleasurable anticipation of:
We smacked our lips over the delicious meal.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English lip(pe), Old English lippa; cognate with Dutch lip, German Lippe; akin to Norwegian lepe, Latin labium
Related forms
lipless, adjective
liplike, adjective
outlip, verb (used with object), outlipped, outlipping.
underlip, noun

lip-

1.
variant of lipo-1. before a vowel:
lipectomy, libase, lipemia.
Examples from the web for lip
  • Sangfroid cold blood coolness and composure under strain stiff upper lip.
  • The only giveaway was usually a lip on one of the sides of the desktop.
  • This lip or edge stopped paper or books from sliding when the surface was given an angle.
  • Transverse sculpture sculpture parallel to the edge of the outer lip of the aperture.
  • From the earliest times, however, the shaving of the upper lip was not uncommon.
  • Often an incomplete cleft lip requires the same surgery as complete cleft.
  • Firstly the group of muscles required to purse the lips run through the upper lip.
  • Clefts of the hard and soft palate are sometimes seen with a cleft lip.
British Dictionary definitions for lip

lip

/lɪp/
noun
1.
(anatomy)
  1. either of the two fleshy folds surrounding the mouth, playing an important role in the production of speech sounds, retaining food in the mouth, etc related adjective labial
  2. (as modifier): lip salve
2.
the corresponding part in animals, esp mammals
3.
any structure resembling a lip, such as the rim of a crater, the margin of a gastropod shell, etc
4.
a nontechnical word for labium, labellum (sense 1)
5.
(slang) impudent talk or backchat
6.
the embouchure and control in the lips needed to blow wind and brass instruments
7.
bite one's lip
  1. to stifle one's feelings
  2. to be annoyed or irritated
8.
(slang) button one's lip, button up one's lip, to stop talking: often imperative
9.
keep a stiff upper lip, to maintain one's courage or composure during a time of trouble without giving way to or revealing one's emotions
10.
lick one's lips, smack one's lips, to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish
verb lips, lipping, lipped
11.
(transitive) to touch with the lip or lips
12.
(transitive) to form or be a lip or lips for
13.
(transitive) (rare) to murmur or whisper
14.
(intransitive) to use the lips in playing a wind instrument
See also lip out
Derived Forms
lipless, adjective
liplike, adjective
Word Origin
Old English lippa; related to Old High German leffur, Norwegian lepe, Latin labium

lip-

combining form
1.
a variant of lipo-
Word Origin and History for lip
n.

Old English lippa, from Proto-Germanic *lepjon (cf. Old Frisian lippa, Middle Dutch lippe, Dutch lip, Old High German lefs, German Lefze, Swedish läpp, Danish læbe), from PIE *leb- "to lick; lip" (cf. Latin labium).

French lippe is from a Germanic source. Transferred sense of "edge or margin of a cup, etc." is from 1590s. Slang sense "saucy talk" is from 1821, probably from move the lip (1570s) "utter even the slightest word (against someone)." To bite (one's) lip "show vexation" is from early 14c. Stiff upper lip as a sign of courage is from 1833. Lip gloss is attested from 1939; lip balm from 1877. Related: Lips.

v.

c.1600, "to kiss," from lip (n.). Meaning "to pronounce with the lips only" is from 1789. Related: Lipped; lipping.

lip in Medicine

lip (lĭp)
n.

  1. Either of two fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth.

  2. A liplike structure bounding or encircling a bodily cavity or groove.

lip- pref.
Variant of lipo-.

Slang definitions & phrases for lip

lip

noun
  1. Insolent, impertinent, or presumptuous talk; sass, sauce: I don't want none of your lip (1821+)
  2. A lawyer; mouthpiece (1929+ Underworld)
verb

To play a musical instrument, esp in jazz; blow: He couldn't lip anything proper anymore (1950s+ Jazz musicians)

Related Terms

bat one's gums, flip one's lip, zip one's lip


lip in the Bible

besides its literal sense (Isa. 37:29, etc.), is used in the original (saphah) metaphorically for an edge or border, as of a cup (1 Kings 7:26), a garment (Ex. 28:32), a curtain (26:4), the sea (Gen. 22:17), the Jordan (2 Kings 2:13). To "open the lips" is to begin to speak (Job 11:5); to "refrain the lips" is to keep silence (Ps. 40:9; 1 Pet. 3:10). The "fruit of the lips" (Heb. 13:15) is praise, and the "calves of the lips" thank-offerings (Hos. 14:2). To "shoot out the lip" is to manifest scorn and defiance (Ps. 22:7). Many similar forms of expression are found in Scripture.

Idioms and Phrases with lip

lip

In addition to the idioms beginning with lip
lip service
also see: