Mouth
/maʊθ/
Definitions
3 meaningsThe opening in the face through which humans and animals eat and speak.
/maʊθ/
The opening in the lower part of the human face, surrounded by the lips, through which food is taken in and vocal sounds are made.
He opened his mouth to speak.
💡 Simply: Your mouth is like a door in your face that you use for eating and talking. It's how you make yummy noises and enjoy delicious treats!
👶 For kids: The mouth is the part of your face you use to eat and talk!
More Examples
The baby put the toy in its mouth.
She had a sore in her mouth.
How It's Used
"The doctor examined the patient's mouth."
"She opened her mouth to eat the apple."
The place where something opens or enters, like the end of a river.
/maʊθ/
An opening or entrance to something (e.g., a river).
The mouth of the cave was hidden by the trees.
💡 Simply: Think of a river like a giant water slide. The mouth is the place where the water slides out into a bigger body of water like the ocean.
👶 For kids: The mouth of a river is where the water goes into the ocean!
More Examples
The mouth of the river opened into the sea.
The ship sailed towards the mouth of the harbor.
How It's Used
"The mouth of the river is wide."
"The mouth of the cave was dark."
To speak or utter something silently or indistinctly.
/maʊð/
To form words with the mouth; to speak.
He mouthed a greeting to his friend across the room.
💡 Simply: Sometimes you can 'mouth' words, meaning you move your lips like you're talking, but you don't actually make any noise.
👶 For kids: Mouthing is when you move your mouth like you're talking, but you don't say any words.
More Examples
She mouthed the words of the song as she couldn't hear the music.
The actor mouthed his lines during the rehearsal.
How It's Used
"He mouthed a silent prayer."
"She mouthed the words of the song."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
to have a big mouth
To talk too much and reveal secrets or things that should be kept private.
"He has a big mouth and always tells everyone's secrets."
mouth-watering
Causing a strong feeling of hunger, especially because something looks or smells delicious.
"The aroma of the freshly baked bread was mouth-watering."
down in the mouth
To be sad, depressed or unhappy.
"She has been down in the mouth since her pet cat died."
to run off at the mouth
To talk a lot, often foolishly or indiscreetly.
"He's always running off at the mouth about politics."
From Old English mūþ, from Proto-Germanic *munþaz. Related to Dutch mond, German Mund, and Latin mandere (to chew).
The word 'mouth' has been used in English since the Old English period, and its meaning has largely remained consistent.
Memory tip
Think of how you use your mouth every day - eating, talking, smiling!
Word Origin
"opening"