MOUTHFUL

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mouthful mean? 

• MOUTHFUL (noun)
  The noun MOUTHFUL has 2 senses:

1. the quantity that can be held in the mouth

2. a small amount eaten or drunk

  Familiarity information: MOUTHFUL used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOUTHFUL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quantity that can be held in the mouth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("mouthful" is a kind of...):

containerful (the quantity that a container will hold)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A small amount eaten or drunk

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

mouthful; taste

Context example:

take a taste--you'll like it

Hypernyms ("mouthful" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mouthful"):

bit; bite; morsel (a small amount of solid food; a mouthful)

sup; swallow (a small amount of liquid food)

Holonyms ("mouthful" is a part of...):

helping; portion; serving (an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal)

 Context examples 

With the disappearance of each mouthful an expression of deep regret came into his eyes.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The man’s heart was heavy, and he thought: “It would be better for you to share the last mouthful with your children.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

You'll have your mouthful of rum tomorrow, and go hang.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

As he made the demand he spat out a mouthful of blood and teeth and shoved his pugnacious face close to Oofty-Oofty.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

We shall have time for a mouthful of dinner before we need go.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She tried to eat, as well to save herself from the pain of being urged as to make her friend comfortable; but she had no appetite, and could not swallow many mouthfuls.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The cub found no more milk in his mother's breast, nor did he get one mouthful of meat for himself.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

A dish of their meat was a good mouthful, and a barrel of their liquor a reasonable draught.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Oh, for but a crust! for but one mouthful to allay the pang of famine!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

And Martin, head on arms, thrilled at the picture he caught of himself, at that moment in the afternoon of long ago, when he reeled and panted and choked with the blood that ran into his mouth and down his throat from his cut lips; when he tottered toward Cheese-Face, spitting out a mouthful of blood so that he could speak, crying out that he would never quit, though Cheese-Face could give in if he wanted to.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)