# mouth

/ˈmaʊθ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mouth
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. anatomy

noun · CEFR A1

the opening in your face that you use to eat, breathe, and speak.

For teachers: the oral cavity and its external opening, used for the ingestion of food and the articulation of sound.

- Keep your mouth closed while you are chewing your food.
- The dentist asked the patient to open her mouth wide so he could inspect the molars for signs of decay.

### 2. river/cave opening

noun · CEFR B1

the place where a river enters the sea, or the entrance to a cave or tunnel.

For teachers: the point where a river issues into a larger body of water, or the entrance to a hollow structure such as a cave or valley.

- The city was built near the mouth of the river to help with trade.
- As they approached the mouth of the cavern, the temperature dropped significantly and the sound of dripping water echoed from within.

### 3. talkative person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a person who talks too much or says rude things.

For teachers: a person who is excessively talkative, boastful, or prone to making tactless remarks.

- Don't listen to him; he's just a big mouth who likes to complain.
- The office mouth couldn't help but reveal the details of the confidential merger before the official announcement was made.

### 4. to speak silently

verb · CEFR B2

to move your lips as if you are speaking, but without making any sound.

For teachers: to form words with the lips silently, often to communicate privately or to accompany a recording.

- She mouthed the words 'thank you' from across the crowded room.
- During the performance, the backup singers were clearly mouthing the lyrics rather than actually singing into their microphones.

### 5. to say insincerely

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to say something without really meaning it or thinking about it.

For teachers: to utter words or ideas in a mechanical or insincere manner, often without genuine conviction.

- The politician just mouthed the same old promises during his speech.
- It was disappointing to hear the CEO simply mouth corporate platitudes instead of addressing the employees' specific concerns about job security.

## Examples

- Open your mouth.
- He put a spoonful of soup into his mouth.
- Words tumbled from her mouth before she had a chance to consider their impact on the tense atmosphere of the room.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.