lip
lihp
Lip (noun) means Either of the two fleshy edges around the mouth. Example: “The baby smiled, and her top lip trembled slightly.”
noun
1
Either of the two fleshy edges around the mouth.
"The baby smiled, and her top lip trembled slightly."
"He licked his lips as the pizza arrived at the table."
"She bit her lip nervously before answering."
2
Disrespectful or cheeky backtalk.
"I won't take any lip from you about tidying your room."
"The teacher warned him not to give her any more lip."
"Don't give me any lip, just do as you're told."
verb
1
To silently form words with the mouth without making a sound.
"The boy lipped a quick apology to his teacher through the classroom window."
"I could see her lipping the lyrics, though the music drowned out any sound."
"She lipped the answer to him across the room."
How to use lip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft edge of the mouth — or, informally, rude backchat.
When to use it
"Lip" meaning cheek/backtalk is informal.
Common pairings
bite your lip
give someone lip
lip of the cup
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- lips
- Past tense
- lipped, lipt
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The baby smiled, and her top _____ trembled slightly.
Etymology
From Old English lippa, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to hang loosely or droop."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for lip
See all rhymes for lip →Frequently asked questions
What does “lip” mean?
The word “lip” means either of the two fleshy edges around the mouth. In plain terms, the soft edge of the mouth — or, informally, rude backchat.
How do you pronounce “lip”?
“Lip” is pronounced lihp (/lɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “lip” in a sentence?
Here is “lip” used in a sentence: “She bit her lip nervously before answering.”
What part of speech is “lip”?
Depending on how it is used, “lip” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “lip” come from?
The word “lip” comes from Old English. From Old English lippa, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to hang loosely or droop.".
Is “lip” a common word?
“Lip” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “lip” have?
“Lip” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: either of the two fleshy edges around the mouth.
What is the difference between "lip" and "lips"?
Singular "lip" refers to one of the two fleshy edges around the mouth, or figuratively to cheeky backtalk. Plural "lips" refers to both edges together, as in "she bit her lips." The backtalk sense is always singular and uncountable.
Is the "backtalk" meaning of "lip" formal or informal?
The sense of "lip" meaning cheeky backtalk is informal and appears mainly in spoken English, as in "Don't give me any lip." In formal writing you would use words like "insolence" or "impertinence" instead.
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