hang on lips of


Usually, lips. these parts as organs of speech: I heard it from his own lips.
a projecting edge on a container or other hollow object: the lip of a pitcher.
a liplike part or structure, especially of anatomy.
any edge or rim.
the edge of an opening or cavity, as of a canyon or a wound: the lip of the crater.
Slang. impudent talk; back talk: Don't give me any of your lip.
Botany. either of the two parts into which the corolla or calyx of certain plants, especially of the mint family, is divided.
a labium.
the outer or the inner margin of the aperture of a gastropod's shell.
Music. the position and arrangement of lips and tongue in playing a wind instrument; embouchure.
the cutting edge of a tool.
the blade, at the end of an auger, which cuts the chip after it has been circumscribed by the spur.
(in a twist drill) the cutting edge at the bottom of each flute.
of or pertaining to the lips or a lip: lip ointment.
characterized by or made with the lips: to read lip movements.
superficial or insincere: to offer lip praise.
verb (used with object), lipped, lipping.
to touch with the lips.
Golf. to hit the ball over the rim of (the hole).
to utter, especially softly.
to kiss.
verb (used without object), lipped, lipping.
to use the lips in playing a musical wind instrument.
Verb phrases
lip off, Slang. to talk impudently or belligerently.
bite one's lip/tongue, to repress one's anger or other emotions: He wanted to return the insult, but bit his lip.
button one's lip, Slang. to keep silent, especially, to refrain from revealing information: They told him to button his lip if he didn't want trouble. Also, button up.
hang on the lips of, to listen to very attentively: The members of the club hung on the lips of the visiting lecturer.
keep a stiff upper lip,
to face misfortune bravely and resolutely: Throughout the crisis they kept a stiff upper lip.
to suppress the display of any emotion.
smack one's lips, to indicate one's keen enjoyment or pleasurable anticipation of: We smacked our lips over the delicious meal.

before 1000; Middle English lip(pe), Old English lippa; cognate with Dutch lip, German Lippe; akin to Norwegian lepe, Latin labium

lipless, adjective
liplike, adjective
outlip, verb (used with object), outlipped, outlipping.
underlip, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
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World English Dictionary
lip (lɪp)
1.  anatomy
 a.  either of the two fleshy folds surrounding the mouth, playing an important role in the production of speech sounds, retaining food in the mouth, etcRelated: labial
 b.  (as modifier): lip salve
2.  the corresponding part in animals, esp mammals
3.  any structure resembling a lip, such as the rim of a crater, the margin of a gastropod shell, etc
4.  labium a nontechnical word for labellum
5.  slang impudent talk or backchat
6.  the embouchure and control in the lips needed to blow wind and brass instruments
7.  bite one's lip
 a.  to stifle one's feelings
 b.  to be annoyed or irritated
8.  slang button one's lip, button up one's lip to stop talking: often imperative
9.  keep a stiff upper lip to maintain one's courage or composure during a time of trouble without giving way to or revealing one's emotions
10.  lick one's lips, smack one's lips to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish
vb , lips, lipping, lipped
11.  (tr) to touch with the lip or lips
12.  (tr) to form or be a lip or lips for
13.  rare (tr) to murmur or whisper
14.  (intr) to use the lips in playing a wind instrument
Related: labial
[Old English lippa; related to Old High German leffur, Norwegian lepe, Latin labium]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Word Origin & History

O.E. lippa, from P.Gmc. *lepjon (cf. O.Fris. lippa, M.Du. lippe, Ger. Lefze, Swed. läpp, Dan. læbe), from PIE *leb- (cf. L. labium). 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-reading is first attested 1874; lipstick is from 1880; lip gloss from 1939.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

lip (lĭp)

  1. Either of two fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth.

  2. A liplike structure bounding or encircling a bodily cavity or groove.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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Bible Dictionary

Lip definition


Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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