noun
mouthful
MOWTH-fuul
noun
1
The amount of food or drink that fills the mouth at once.
"He took a large mouthful of soup and burned his tongue."
2
A word or phrase that is long or hard to say.
"Her surname is a real mouthful for most people to pronounce."
3
A sharp burst of criticism or scolding.
"He gave the referee a mouthful after the call went against his team."
How to Use Mouthful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bite-sized amount, a tongue-twisting word, or an angry outburst of words.
Common pairings
a mouthful of food
quite a mouthful
give someone a mouthful
Word Forms
more mouthful comparative, mouthfuls plural, mouthsful plural, most mouthful superlative
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He took a large _____ of soup and burned his tongue.
Etymology
From "mouth" plus "full," literally meaning "as much as fills the mouth."