mouth
mouth
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "mouth" is /maʊθ/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
maʊ:
/m/ - bilabial nasal consonant (like the 'm' in 'mat')
/aʊ/ - diphthong (starts like the 'ow' in 'cow' and glides towards the 'oo' in 'moon')
θ:
/θ/ - voiceless dental fricative (like the 'th' in 'thin')
Word Form Variations
mouth (singular noun) - The opening in the lower part of the face, through which food is taken in and vocal sounds are emitted. Example: He opened his mouth to speak.
mouths (plural noun) - More than one mouth. Example: The baby birds opened their mouths wide.
mouthed (past tense/past participle verb) - Formed or uttered with (a certain kind of) mouth. Also sometimes used to describe someone who speaks in a particular way. Example: He mouthed the words silently. Less common usage: She was described as being foul-mouthed.
mouthing (present participle/gerund verb) - The act of forming or uttering words silently or indistinctly with the mouth. Example: She was mouthing the lyrics to the song.
It's important to note that "mouthed" and "mouthing" can also be used as adjectives, although this is less common. For instance, "a foul-mouthed sailor."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun (Mouth)
Definition 1 (Anatomical): The opening in the lower part of the face, bounded by the lips, through which food is taken in and vocal sounds are emitted.
Synonyms: Oral cavity, maw, jaws (informal), trap (slang)
Antonyms: (Difficult to find a direct antonym, but conceptually) Closure, silence
Definition 2 (Figurative): A place of entry or opening resembling a mouth, especially of a cave, river, or container.
Synonyms: Entrance, opening, portal, entry, outlet, brink
Antonyms: Exit, closure, end
Definition 3 (Informal/Slang): A person's speech or way of speaking, often implying a certain tone or style. "He's got a big mouth."
Synonyms: Voice, speech, words, utterance, yap (slang), gab (slang)
Antonyms: Silence, reticence, quiet
Verb (Mouth)
Definition 1 (Transitive): To form words silently with the lips, without producing sound.
Synonyms: Mimic, pantomime, lip-sync, gesture
Antonyms: Speak, vocalize, articulate, pronounce
Definition 2 (Transitive/Intransitive - Less Common): To utter or speak, often in a pompous, affected, or insincere way. "He mouthed platitudes."
Synonyms: Utter, pronounce, declaim, spout, orate
Antonyms: Be quiet, remain silent, listen
Adjective (Mouthed)
Definition 1 (Descriptive): Having a mouth of a particular kind. "A wide-mouthed frog."
Synonyms: (Relates to the specific description used, e.g., large-jawed, small-lipped)
Antonyms: (Again, relates to the specific description, e.g., small-jawed, thin-lipped)
Definition 2 (Figurative - Less Common): Expressing something, often insincerely or mechanically. "Mouthed apologies."
Synonyms: Lip-served, perfunctory, hollow, insincere
Antonyms: Sincere, heartfelt, genuine
Adverb (Mouth - Rare/Archaic)
This usage is extremely uncommon in modern English. Historically, it might have been used to describe the manner of speaking, but it's effectively obsolete. It's best to avoid using "mouth" as an adverb. Instead, use an adverb derived from a related adjective, such as "vocally," "orally," or "articulately."
Examples of Use
Noun (Anatomical/Literal):
"The baby opened its mouth wide for the spoon." (General public discourse)
"He examined the patient's mouth and throat." (Medical context)
"The river's mouth emptied into the sea." (Geographic description)
"The dragon opened its mouth and roared." (Fantasy literature) - Example: Many fantasy novels, such as "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin, use this type of description.
"Scientists have discovered a new species of fish with a bioluminescent mouth." (Science news article) - Example: You could find such an article on websites like ScienceDaily or National Geographic.
Noun (Figurative):
"The cave's mouth was dark and ominous." (Descriptive writing)
"He had a big mouth and often said things he regretted." (Idiomatic expression referring to someone who talks too much)
"The politician's words were just empty mouths." (Figurative use referring to insincere speech)
"The mouth of the bottle was too narrow." (Describing an opening)
Verb (Mouthing):
"She was mouthing the words along with the song." (General public discourse)
"The actor mouthed his lines silently during rehearsal." (Theater context)
"He mouthed an apology, but she didn't believe him." (Describing insincere communication)
"They were mouthing insults at each other across the room." (Describing silent or whispered communication, often negative)
Adjective (Mouthed):
"The frog was wide-mouthed." (Descriptive of physical characteristic)
"He gave a half-mouthed excuse." (Describing something insincere or incomplete)
"The critic dismissed the film as a collection of cliché-mouthed platitudes." (Literary criticism)
Examples Across Media:
Literature: "Her mouth was a scarlet wound." (Figurative description in a novel)
News: "The volcano's mouth is spewing ash and lava." (News report)
Film/Television: A character mouthing "I love you" across a crowded room. (Visual storytelling)
Music: Song lyrics that use "mouth" metaphorically.
Social Media: "He needs to learn to keep his mouth shut." (Online comment expressing disapproval of someone's speech)
10 Famous Quotes Using Mouth
"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue — a closed mouth gathers no feet." — Proverbs 17:28, The Bible
"Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:9, The Bible
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt — the mouth reveals the mind." — Abraham Lincoln (attributed)
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." — Matthew 12:34, The Bible
"Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open." — Samuel Goldwyn
"A closed mouth doesn’t get fed." — African-American proverb
"The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man — beware your mouth." — Ancient Japanese proverb
"Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in — and close your mouth while you’re at it." — Alan Alda (adapted)
"The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked." — Proverbs 10:11, The Bible
"Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth." — Traditional proverb
Etymology
Let's break down the etymology of "mouth" in a way that's easy to understand.
The word "mouth" comes from Old English mūth, which meant exactly what it means today: the opening in the lower part of the face used for eating and speaking. This Old English word itself came from even older Germanic roots. Imagine a very early version of English, and you'd likely find a similar-sounding word for "mouth."
Tracing it back further, linguists believe it ultimately derives from a Proto-Germanic word, which they reconstruct as munþaz. This Proto-Germanic word is related to words in other Indo-European languages, suggesting a very ancient origin. For example, it's related to the Latin word mentum (chin) and the Sanskrit word manthra (speech, mantra). This connection hints at the fundamental link between the physical mouth and the act of speaking.
So, the journey of "mouth" is a long one! It started with a very basic, practical meaning – the hole in your face – and has kept that core meaning throughout its history. While it has picked up some figurative uses along the way (like referring to an opening or a way of speaking), its primary meaning has remained remarkably consistent since its first recorded use in Old English. It's a testament to how some words stick with us, unchanged, across centuries.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Mouth
"Mouth" isn't as prolific in idioms as some other body parts. It's used in some, but many relate more to speech or openings than the physical mouth itself. This makes it harder to find tons of common idioms specifically about the mouth as an organ.
Common/Relatively Common:
Big mouth: A person who talks too much, especially about things that should be kept secret.
Keep one's mouth shut: To remain silent.
Open one's mouth: To speak.
By word of mouth: Spread by people talking to each other.
From mouth to mouth: Passed along through speech.
Down in the mouth: Unhappy or depressed.
Mouth-watering: Appetizing, delicious.
Put words in someone's mouth: To falsely attribute words to someone.
Take the words out of someone's mouth: To say what someone else was about to say.
Less Common/Thematically Related:
Mouth off: To speak disrespectfully or angrily.
Mouthpiece: A person who speaks on behalf of an organization or person.
Sweet-mouthed: Persuasive or flattering in speech.
Foul-mouthed: Using offensive or obscene language.
Tight-lipped: Reluctant to speak; secretive.
Lip service: Insincere expression of support or agreement. (Related to the mouth but about speech.)
Tongue-tied: Unable to speak because of nervousness or shyness. (Related to the mouth's function in speech.)
Similes/Metaphors:
"His mouth was as dry as cotton." (Simile for thirst)
"The cave's mouth gaped open, dark and menacing." (Metaphor for an entrance)
Why Fewer "Mouth" Idioms?
As mentioned, many "mouth" idioms relate to speech rather than the physical organ. We often use "mouth" figuratively to represent the act of speaking. So, while we have plenty of idioms about talking, gossiping, or being quiet, they aren't always physically about the mouth. This is why it's a bit harder to come up with a huge number of common idioms that are solely focused on the mouth as a body part. Many use "lips" or "tongue" when referring to the physical aspects of the mouth.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of mouth from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
