lips
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
An inflected form of lip · plural.
How often you will meet it
Rank 442 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 45,894 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.022% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
- (botany) either of the two parts of a bilabiate corolla or calyx
- an impudent or insolent rejoinder also: sass, sassing, backtalk, back talk, mouth don't give me any of your sass
- the top edge of a vessel or other container also: brim, rim
- either the outer margin or the inner margin of the aperture of a gastropod's shell
lips in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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His lips were stretched in that thin, straight smile.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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But "Madam's" small, white hand, placed over his lips, interrupted.
Gloria and Treeless Street · Annie Hamilton Donnell · Chapter 1
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Her lips were set grimly together, and she carried a small suit-case.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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The curiously gentle smile had never left the bearded lips, but in his voice a slight proud change was perceptible.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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There was force in the stern self-repression of his speech, in the curve of his lips, the clear lightning of his eyes.
The Betrayal · E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim · Chapter 1