Etymology : Middle English, from Old English lippa; akin to Old High German leffur lip and probably to Latin labium, labrum lip
Pronunciation : 'lip
Function : noun
Date : before 12th century
1. either of two fleshy parts which form the edge of the mouth of humans and animals; edge which projects outwards; boldness, impertinence, impudence (Slang). rudeness, cheek No more of your lip, boy. I won't allow you to be rude. lip\lip\ (l&ibreve;p), n. [oe. lippe, as. lippa; akin to d. lip, g. lippe, lefze, ohg. lefs, dan. l?be, sw. l?pp, l. labium, labrum. cf. labial.].
2. one of the two fleshy folds which surround the orifice of the mouth in man and many other animals. in man the lips are organs of speech essential to certain articulations. hence, by a figure they denote the mouth, or all the organs of speech, and sometimes speech itself. thine own lips testify against thee. xv.
3. 2. an edge of an opening; a thin projecting part of anything; a kind of short open spout; as, the lip of a vessel.
4. the sharp cutting edge on the end of an auger.
5. (bot.) (a) one of the two opposite divisions of a labiate corolla. (b) the odd and peculiar petal in the orchis family. see:
orchidaceous.
6. (zo?l.) one of the edges of the aperture of a univalve shell.lip bit, a pod auger. see:
auger.lip comfort, comfort that is given with words only.lip comforter, one who comforts with words only.lip labor, unfelt or insincere speech; hypocrisy.lip reading, the catching of the words or meaning of one speaking by watching the motion of his lips without hearing his voice. arpenter.lip salve, a salve for sore lips.lip service, expression by the lips of obedience and devotion without the performance of acts suitable to such sentiments.lip wisdom, wise talk without practice, or unsupported by experience.lip work. (a) talk. (b) kissing. [humorous] jonson.
7. One of the two fleshy folds which surround the orifice of the mouth in man and many other animals.
8. In man the lips are organs of speech essential to certain articulations.
9. Hence, by a figure they denote the mouth, or all the organs of speech, and sometimes speech itself.
10. An edge of an opening; a thin projecting part of anything; a kind of short open spout; as, the lip of a vessel.
11. The sharp cutting edge on the end of an auger.
12. One of the two opposite divisions of a labiate corolla.
13. The odd and peculiar petal in the Orchis family.
14. See Orchidaceous.
15. One of the edges of the aperture of a univalve shell.
16. To touch with the lips; to put the lips to; hence, to kiss.
17. To utter; to speak.
18. To clip; to trim. fleshy folds of tissue as those surrounding the mouth.
19. 1. Your lips are the two outer parts of the edge of your mouth. Wade stuck the cigarette between his lips.
20. The lip of something such as a container or a high area of land is its edge. the lip of the jug. the lip of Mount Etna's smouldering crater. = rim.
21. If you lick your lips, you move your tongue across your lips as you think about or taste something pleasant. They licked their lips in anticipation We swallowed the chocolates in one gulp, licking our lips.