lip
pronunciation
How to pronounce lip in British English:
UK [lɪp]
How to pronounce lip in American English:
US [lɪp]
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- Noun:
- fleshy folds of tissue as those surrounding the mouth
- an impudent or insolent rejoinder
- the top edge of a vessel
Word Origin
- lip
- lip: [OE] Lip has been traced back to Indo- European *leb-, which also produced Latin labrum ‘lip’, source of French lèvre ‘lip’ and English labial [16]. Its Germanic descendant was *lepaz-, from which come German lippe, Dutch lip, Swedish läppe, Danish læbe, and English lip.=> labial
- lip (n.)
- Old English lippa, from Proto-Germanic *lepjon (cognates: Old Frisian lippa, Middle Dutch lippe, Dutch lip, Old High German lefs, German Lefze, Swedish läpp, Danish læbe), from PIE *leb- "to lick; lip" (source also of Latin labium). French lippe is from a Germanic source. Transferred sense of "edge or margin of a cup, etc." is from 1590s. Slang sense "saucy talk" is from 1821, probably from move the lip (1570s) "utter even the slightest word (against someone)." To bite (one's) lip "show vexation" is from early 14c. Stiff upper lip as a sign of courage is from 1833. Lip gloss is attested from 1939; lip balm from 1877. Related: Lips.
- lip (v.)
- c. 1600, "to kiss," from lip (n.). Meaning "to pronounce with the lips only" is from 1789. Related: Lipped; lipping.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Dex dangled his cigarette from his lower lip .
- 2. A bit of grease shone on her bottom lip , but she didn 't wipe it away .
- 3. Companies have paid lip service to customer service for years , yet still treat customers like serfs .
- 4. Over the next several months , progressively larger plugs are inserted to stretch the lip .
- 5. And tongue , cheek , and lip piercings can cause gum problems .