[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/lip/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [L](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/l/) / lip # lip noun (a lip, lips) «lip» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Your lips are the two soft edges around your mouth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#m1) 2. The lip of something, like a jug, cup or cliff, is its edge or rim. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#m2) 3. Informally, «lip» means rude talk: don't give me any lip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#m3) ### In the lessons In science lips help you eat, speak and make sounds like «p», «b» and «m»; lips have lots of nerves and feel things easily. In health lessons lips can get chapped (dry and cracked) in cold or windy weather, and lip balm helps; lips swelling suddenly can be a sign of an allergy. In stories a trembling lip shows someone is about to cry; biting your lip shows you are holding back words. Phrases: lip balm, bite your lip, read someone's lips, my lips are sealed (I'll keep a secret), stiff upper lip. ### Examples - My lips are dry in the cold wind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x1) - Put some lip balm on your lips. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x2) - Her bottom lip trembled and she started to cry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x3) - My lips are sealed; I won't tell anyone about the surprise party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x4) - Some deaf people can read lips. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x5) - The lip of the jug helps you pour without spilling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x6) - He bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x7) - If your lips swell after eating, tell an adult straight away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x8) - The cup was placed to Sir Philip's lips. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/#x9) ### Note Countable: one lip, two lips (top lip and bottom lip). «Lip-read» or «read lips» means understanding speech by watching the mouth. Do not confuse with «leap» (a big jump). «My lips are sealed» is fine for a nice surprise, but not for unsafe secrets. ## In Jewish tradition "Uncircumcised lips" is Moses' way of saying his speech was hard or not ready, and "utterance of her lips" means what a person says in a vow. In Psalms and Proverbs the lips stand for a person's speech, as in lips that give honest answers, lips that guard against guile, or lips that utter praise. **Interpretation.** Tradition teaches that a spoken vow binds a person, so one must be careful with words. Moses' words were read as a sign of humility. The rabbis also teach that one must guard the tongue and lips from evil speech and use them to praise God. ### Examples - And Moses said before the LORD: 'Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?' (Torah EXO.6.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lip/#x1) - And if she be married to a husband, while her vows are upon her, or the clear utterance of her lips, wherewith she hath bound her soul; (Torah NUM.30.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lip/#x2) - And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying: 'Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?' (Torah EXO.6.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lip/#x3) - He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer. (Writings PRO.24.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lip/#x4) - Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. (Writings PSA.34.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lip/#x5) - Let my lips utter praise: because Thou teachest me Thy statutes. (Writings PSA.119.171, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lip/#x6) ### Note Countable: one lip, two lips (top lip and bottom lip). «Lip-read» or «read lips» means understanding speech by watching the mouth. Do not confuse with «leap» (a big jump). «My lips are sealed» is fine for a nice surprise, but not for unsafe secrets. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «lip» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lip/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«lip» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lip.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «lip» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lip/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«lip» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/lip.html) on Mova free.