lip

/lɪp/

/lɪp/

Other forms: lips; lipping

Your lips are the external, fleshy part of your mouth. You have a top lip and a bottom lip. Lips are what make kissing possible.

Lips are useful when it comes to speaking, eating, and kissing. If you say that something is "on everyone's lips," you mean that it's the topic everyone seems to be talking about lately. If an angry teacher says, "Don't give me any lip!" he means "Don't be a smart mouth," or "Don't be impertinent." When you manage to keep a "stiff upper lip," you stay brave even when things get difficult.

Definitions of lip

1. noun

   either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
   types:

   overlip

   the upper lip

   underlip

   the lower lip

   type of:

   external body part

   any body part visible externally

   articulator

   a movable speech organ
2. noun

   (botany) either of the two parts of a bilabiate corolla or calyx
   type of:

   plant part, plant structure

   any part of a plant or fungus
3. noun

   either the outer margin or the inner margin of the aperture of a gastropod's shell
   type of:

   border, margin, perimeter

   the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
4. noun

   the top edge of a vessel or other container
   synonyms: brim, rim

   types:

   collar, shoe collar

   the stitching that forms the rim of a shoe or boot

   type of:

   edge

   a sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object
5. noun

   an impudent or insolent rejoinder
   synonyms: back talk, backtalk, mouth, sass, sassing

   type of:

   comeback, counter, rejoinder, replication, retort, return, riposte

   a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)