# lip

> English word · Noun · IPA /lɪp/ · frequency rank #5,808

## Definitions
1. Either of the two fleshy protrusions around the opening of the mouth.
2. A part of the body that resembles a lip, such as the edge of a wound or the labia.
3. The projecting rim of an open container or a bell, etc.; a short open spout.
4. Backtalk; verbal impertinence.
5. The edge of a high spot of land.
6. The sharp cutting edge on the end of an auger.
7. One of the two opposite divisions of a labiate corolla.
8. A distinctive lower-appearing of the three true petals of an orchid.
9. One of the edges of the aperture of a univalve shell.
10. Embouchure: the condition or strength of a wind instrumentalist's lips.
11. Clipping of lipstick.

## Etymology
From Middle English lippe, from Old English lippa, lippe (“lip”), from Proto-West Germanic *lippjō (“lip”), from Proto-Germanic *lepô, from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang loosely, droop, sag”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Lippe (“lip”), West Frisian lippe (“lip”), Dutch lip (“lip”), German Lippe and Lefze (“lip”), Low German Lippe (“lip”), Luxembourgish Lëps (“lip”), Vilamovian łyp (“lip”), Yiddish ליפּ (lip, “lip”), Danish læbe (“lip”), Norwegian Bokmål leppe (“lip”), Norwegian Nynorsk leppa, leppe, lippa, lippe (“lip”), Swedish läpp (“lip”),
Latin labium (“lip”).

## Easily confused with
- **Lt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lt)
- **lo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lo)
- **LP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lp)
- **LN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-ln)
- **Ls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-ls)
- **lu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lu)
- **LV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lv)
- **LR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lr)
- **LM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lm)
- **LJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lj)
- **lx** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lx)
- **LZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lz)
- **lot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lot)
- **low** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-low)
- **lol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lol)
- **los** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-los)
- **log** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-log)
- **lit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lit)
- **Lou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-lou)
- **Liz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lip-vs-liz)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lip