Lips: meaning, definitions and examples

Repeats the first entry; same descriptive and neutral use.

• She applied lipstick to her lips.
• His lips were chapped from the cold weather.

This word is broader and more general, used to refer to the entire opening in the face used for speaking and eating. It can be used in both neutral and medical contexts.

• Open your mouth and say 'ah'.
• She covered her mouth when she sneezed.

This is a slang term and is often used in a more informal or humorous context. It can sometimes have a light-hearted or slightly rude connotation.

• Get that big kiss planted right on your kisser!
• He got punched right in the kisser.

Usually used in a very informal and playful context to refer to a kiss. It is often used in a cheerful and positive way.

• Give me a big smacker on the cheek!
• He planted a smacker on her lips after the proposal.

Use for referring to the fleshy edges of the mouth or something that resembles them in form or function.

• She applied lipstick to her lips.
• The cup's lip was stained with coffee.

Commonly used for the sharply-defined outer limit of a surface or object. It can also describe a boundary between two surfaces.

• She cut the paper along the edge.
• The cliff's edge was dangerously steep.

Refers to the outer circular boundary of a circular object, like a wheel or a container. It can also metaphorically describe the border of something.

• The rim of the basketball hoop was slightly bent.
• He cleaned the rim of his glasses.

Typically refers to the top edge or border of a container, especially one that holds liquids. Often used when talking about hats, it means the projecting edge.

• He filled the glass to the brim with water.
• The brim of his hat shaded his eyes.

Refer to the soft, movable parts on the outer edge of the mouth, typically used in everyday conversation and descriptions related to facial features.

• She applied lipstick to her lips.
• His lips were dry and chapped from the cold.

Typically used in the context of musical instruments, especially woodwind instruments, to refer to the thin strip of material that vibrates to produce sound.

• She carefully adjusted the reed on her clarinet.
• The reed on his oboe was broken and needed to be replaced.

Often used in the context of playing wind instruments to describe the way a musician applies their mouth to the instrument's mouthpiece.

• Her embouchure improved significantly with practice.
• A good embouchure is essential for playing the trumpet.

Commonly used when referring to the part of a musical instrument that a player places their mouth on; can also refer to a person who represents or speaks on behalf of another.

• He needed to replace the mouthpiece on his saxophone.
• The lawyer acted as a mouthpiece for his client.