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lip

noun · verb

Simple meaning

Either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

lip
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈlɪp

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. Either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

  2. countable

    Either of the two fleshy protrusions around the opening of the mouth.

  3. countable

    A part of the body that resembles a lip, such as the edge of a wound or the labia.

  4. by extensioncountable

    The projecting rim of an open container or a bell, etc.; a short open spout.

  5. The edge of a high spot of land.

  6. The sharp cutting edge on the end of an auger.

verb

  1. transitive

    To touch or grasp with the lips; to kiss; to lap the lips against (something).

  2. intransitivetransitive

    To wash against a surface, lap.

  3. transitivefigurativelyof an object

    To touch lightly.

  4. intransitive

    To rise or flow up to or over the edge of something.

  5. transitive

    To form the rim, edge or margin of something.

  6. transitive

    To utter verbally.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Typical Use
Everyday English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: Either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

Used this way, lip is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use lip

  • “Don't give me any lip!”noun

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

upper liplower liplip servicecleft liplip readinglip glossdorsal lipbottom lip

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.