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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Lip Meaning, Examples, and Common Uses (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：mouth rim (lip)

lip 🔊

/lɪp/

One of the two soft parts around the opening of your mouth that you use for talking and eating.

Close-up of lips smiling gently with soft lighting

mouth rim 🔊

➕

/maʊθ rɪm/

The soft, movable piece of flesh that forms the outer opening of the mouth, used for speaking and eating.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Old English lippa, related to Dutch lip and German Lippe.

💡 Mnemonic

Lick your lips; they're the lid of your mouth.

📖 Example

She applied a little lip balm to protect her lips from the cold wind. 🔊 She applied a little lip balm to protect her lips from the cold wind.

🔗 Collocations

lip balm – a moisturizing substance applied to the lips to prevent chapping

lip service – verbal support that is not followed by action

lip sync – the action of moving the lips in synchronization with recorded speech or song

🔄 Synonyms

labium (n.) – a lip or lip-like structure, especially in anatomy

mouth edge (n.) – the border or rim of the mouth

oral margin (n.) – the scientific term for the edge of the mouth opening

🌱 Derivatives

lipstick (n.) – a cosmetic color applied to the lips

lip-read (v.) – to understand speech by watching the movements of the speaker's lips

lip-sync (v./n.) – to move lips in synchronization with recorded speech or song

📖 Cultural Story

From Proto-Germanic *lepjan, 'lip' in Old English referred to the mouth part. Its use for container edges is a metaphor, seen since the 14th century.

Meaning 2：cup rim (lip)

lip 🔊

/lɪp/

The top edge of a hollow container, like a cup or a bowl, where you put your mouth to drink.

Side view of coffee mug with liquid at the lip

cup rim 🔊

➕

/kʌp rɪm/

The top edge of a container, such as a cup or bowl, where liquid is poured out or where the mouth touches when drinking.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Be careful, the tea is so full it's almost at the lip of the cup. 🔊 Be careful, the tea is so full it's almost at the lip of the cup.

🔗 Collocations

cup lip – the rim of a cup where liquid contacts the drinker's mouth

glass lip – the edge of a glass container

pour from the lip – to pour liquid from the edge of a container

🔄 Synonyms

rim (n.) – the outer edge of a circular object, especially a container

brim (n.) – the top edge of a container, especially a cup or bowl

edge (n.) – the outside limit of an object, surface, or area

🚫 Antonyms

bottom (n.) – the lowest part of a container

base (n.) – the supporting part of a container

inside (n.) – the inner surface or space within a container

🌱 Derivatives

lipped (adj.) – having a lip, as of a container

lipless (adj.) – lacking a lip, as of a smooth-edged container

lip-rim (n.) – the rim or edge of a container that serves as the lip