Mouth vs. Beak — What's the Difference?

In animal anatomy, the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, buccal cavity, or in Latin cavum oris, is the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds. It is also the cavity lying at the upper end of the alimentary canal, bounded on the outside by the lips and inside by the pharynx and containing in higher vertebrates the tongue and teeth.

The beak, bill, and/or rostrum is an external anatomical structure found mostly in birds, but also in non-avian dinosaurs and some mammals. A beak is used for eating and for preening, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young.

The body opening through which an animal takes in food.

A bird's horny projecting jaws; a bill

The cavity lying at the upper end of the digestive tract, bounded on the outside by the lips and inside by the oropharynx and containing in humans and certain other vertebrates the tongue, gums, and teeth.

A magistrate or a schoolmaster.

This cavity regarded as the source of sounds and speech.

The bill of a bird, especially one that is strong and curved, such as that of a hawk or a finch.

The opening to any cavity or canal in an organ or a bodily part.

A similar structure in other animals, such as turtles, insects, or fish.

The part of the lips visible on the human face.

A usually firm, tapering tip on certain plant structures, such as some seeds and fruits.

A pout, grimace, or similar expression:made a mouth when the teacher turned away.

The spout of a pitcher.

A person viewed as a consumer of food:has three mouths to feed at home.

A metal or metal-clad ram projecting from the bow of an ancient warship.

A spokesperson; a mouthpiece:acts as the mouth of the organization.

(Informal)The human nose.

Utterance; voice:gave mouth to her doubts.

A schoolmaster.

A tendency to talk excessively or unwisely:is known mainly for his mouth.

A judge.

Impudent or vulgar talk:Watch your mouth.

Anatomical uses.

The part of a stream or river that empties into a larger body of water.

A rigid structure projecting from the front of a bird's face, used for pecking, grooming, foraging, carrying items, eating food, etc.

The entrance to a harbor, canyon, valley, or cave.

A similar structure forming the jaws of a turtle, platypus, etc.

The opening through which a container is filled or emptied.

The long projecting sucking mouth of some insects and other invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera.

The muzzle of a gun.

The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve.

The opening between the jaws of a vise or other holding or gripping tool.

The prolongation of certain univalve shells containing the canal.

An opening in the pipe of an organ.

(botany) Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.

The opening in the mouthpiece of a flute across which the player blows.

Figurative uses.

To declare in a pompous manner; declaim:mouthing his opinions of the candidates.

Anything projecting or ending in a point like a beak, such as a promontory of land.

To utter without conviction or understanding:mouthing empty compliments.

(architecture) A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.

To form soundlessly:I mouthed the words as the others sang.

(farriery) A toe clip.

To take in or touch with the mouth:Small children tend to mouth their toys.

(nautical) That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.

To orate affectedly; declaim.

(nautical) A beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, used as a ram to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.

To grimace.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Libythea, notable for the beak-like elongation on their heads.

(anatomy) The opening of a creature through which food is ingested.

Colloquial uses.

The end of a river out of which water flows into a sea or other large body of water.

(slang) The human nose, especially one that is large and pointed.

An outlet, aperture or orifice.

Cocaine.

(slang) A loud or overly talkative person.

A justice of the peace; a magistrate.

(saddlery) The crosspiece of a bridle bit, which enters the mouth of an animal.

A schoolmaster (originally, at Eton).

(obsolete) A principal speaker; one who utters the common opinion; a mouthpiece.

(transitive) Strike with the beak.

(obsolete) Speech; language; testimony.

(transitive) Seize with the beak.

(obsolete) A wry face; a grimace; a mow.

To play truant.

(transitive) To speak; to utter.

The bill or nib of a bird, consisting of a horny sheath, covering the jaws. The form varies much according to the food and habits of the bird, and is largely used in the classification of birds.

(transitive) To make the actions of speech, without producing sound.

Anything projecting or ending in a point, like a beak, as a promontory of land.

To form with the mouth.

A beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, in order to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.

(ambitransitive) To utter with a voice that is overly loud or swelling.

That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.

To exit at a mouth (such as a river mouth)

A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.

(transitive) To pick up or handle with the lips or mouth, but not chew or swallow.

Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.

To take into the mouth; to seize or grind with the mouth or teeth; to chew; to devour.

A magistrate or policeman.

To form or cleanse with the mouth; to lick, as a bear licks her cub.

Beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)

To carry in the mouth.

Horny projecting mouth of a bird

(obsolete) To make mouths at

Informal terms for the nose

To form a mouth or opening in.

Hit lightly with a picking motion

(sheep husbandry) To examine the teeth of.

The opening through which an animal receives food; the aperture between the jaws or between the lips; also, the cavity, containing the tongue and teeth, between the lips and the pharynx; the buccal cavity.

An opening affording entrance or exit; orifice; aperture;

The crosspiece of a bridle bit, which enters the mouth of an animal.

A principal speaker; one who utters the common opinion; a mouthpiece.

Cry; voice.

Speech; language; testimony.

A wry face; a grimace; a mow.

To take into the mouth; to seize or grind with the mouth or teeth; to chew; to devour.

To utter with a voice affectedly big or swelling; to speak in a strained or unnaturally sonorous manner; as, mouthing platitudes.

To form or cleanse with the mouth; to lick, as a bear her cub.

To make mouths at.

To speak with a full, round, or loud, affected voice; to vociferate; to rant.

To put mouth to mouth; to kiss.

To make grimaces, esp. in ridicule or contempt.

The opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge;

The externally visible part of the oral cavity on the face and the system of organs surrounding the opening;

An opening that resembles a mouth (as of a cave or a gorge);

The point where a stream issues into a larger body of water;

A person conceived as a consumer of food;

A spokesperson (as a lawyer)

An impudent or insolent rejoinder;

The opening of a jar or bottle;

Express in speech;

Articulate silently; form words with the lips only;

Touch with the mouth