labial

labial — adjective

IPA/ˈleɪ.bi.əl/
IPA/ˈleɪ.bi.əl/
  • labialpositive
  • more labialcomparative
  • most labialsuperlative

1. describing speech sounds that are created when a speaker presses the upper and l

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing speech sounds that are created when a speaker presses the upper and lower lips together, for instance the starting sounds of words like 'pan', 'bat', and 'milk'

Example

The /p/ in 'pin' is a labial consonant formed by closing both lips.

labial + consonant (collocation for phonetics sense)

In her linguistics class, Hoa learned that /b/ and /m/ are also labial sounds.

Common collocations
  • labial consonant
  • labial sound
  • labial stop
  • labial contact
Synonyms
  • bilabial

    more specific term for sounds made with both lips; 'labial' can also sometimes include lip-and-teeth sounds in older systems, whereas 'bilabial' never does

Antonyms
  • velar

    sounds made at the soft palate (e.g., /k/, /ɡ/)

  • alveolar

    sounds made at the ridge behind the upper teeth (e.g., /t/, /d/)

Grammar Patterns

labial + noun (consonant, sound, stop)

Usage Note

In phonetics, 'labial' normally implies 'bilabial' (both lips together). A sound made with the lower lip and upper teeth, such as /f/ or /v/, is called 'labiodental', not 'labial'.

Common Mistakes

The /v/ in 'vine' is a labial sound.
The /v/ in 'vine' is a labiodental, not a labial. True labials like /p/, /b/, and /m/ use both lips pressed together, not the lip and teeth.

2. relating to the soft outer edges of the mouth, one above and one below the mouth

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to the soft outer edges of the mouth, one above and one below the mouth opening

Example

The dentist checked the labial surface of Min's front teeth during the visit.

labial surface — dental collocation

Heloísa noticed a labial sore after a long afternoon in the cold wind.

Common collocations
  • labial tissue
  • labial surface
  • labial area
  • labial movement
  • labial skin
Synonyms
  • lip

    the common everyday noun; also used as a plain modifier (e.g., 'lip tissue') where 'labial' would sound too technical

Grammar Patterns

labial + noun (tissue, surface, area, region)

Usage Note

In everyday English, the simple noun 'lip' is preferred over 'labial' for non-specialist contexts — for example, 'lip balm', not 'labial balm'. The adjective 'labial' is most common in medical, dental, and scientific writing.

Common Mistakes

I bought some labial balm at the pharmacy.
I bought some lip balm at the pharmacy.
In daily conversation, use 'lip' as a modifier; 'labial' sounds overly clinical.

3. connected to the two pairs of skin folds on either side of the opening of a woma

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

connected to the two pairs of skin folds on either side of the opening of a woman's genitals

Example

The doctor explained that mild labial swelling during pregnancy is quite common.

collocation: labial swelling; medical register

Nia reported labial discomfort to her nurse and was given a gentle cleansing routine.

Common collocations
  • labial area
  • labial swelling
  • labial discomfort
  • labial irritation
  • labial hygiene
Synonyms
  • vulvar

    broader term covering the entire external female genital area, not just the labia

  • genital

    more general term for the sex organs, less specific than 'labial'

Grammar Patterns

labial + noun (area, tissue, swelling, irritation)

Usage Note

The singular form 'labium' refers to one of the folds. The terms 'labia majora' (outer folds) and 'labia minora' (inner folds) are often used in medical descriptions. This sense is unrelated to the lips of the mouth.

Common Mistakes

The doctor examined her labial (meaning the lips of the mouth).
The doctor examined her labial area for signs of infection.
When context is unclear, specify 'mouth' or 'genital' to avoid confusion between sense 2 (lips of the mouth) and sense 3 (labia).

labial — noun

IPA/ˈleɪbiəl/
IPA/ˈleɪbiəl/

Word family

  • labium
    nounC2
  • labialize
    verbC2
  • labially
    adverbC2
  • bilabial
    adjectiveC1
  • labiodental
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe parts or functions of the mouth, but they refer to different specific structures. 'Labial' (from Latin 'labium' = lip) strictly concerns the lips themselves — the soft outer edges that open and close. 'Oral' (from Latin 'os' = mouth) is the broadest term and covers the entire mouth cavity, including the tongue, teeth, palate, and cheeks; it appears in common phrases like 'oral health' or 'oral exam'. 'Buccal' (from Latin 'bucca' = cheek) refers specifically to the inside of the cheek, such as 'buccal tablet' (a medicine placed against the cheek). 'Lingual' (from Latin 'lingua' = tongue) relates to the tongue, as in 'lingual braces' fitted on the inner side of the teeth. In short: use 'labial' for the lips, 'oral' for the mouth generally, 'buccal' for the cheek, and 'lingual' for the tongue.

labial ↗oral ↗buccal ↗lingual ↗

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'labial' traces back to the Latin noun 'labium', meaning 'lip'. In Late Latin the adjective 'labialis' ('of or relating to the lips') was formed, and this passed into English in the mid-1600s as 'labial'. The word was first used in anatomy to describe the lips of the mouth; its phonetic sense — describing speech sounds made with the lips — followed later, and the medical sense referring to the labia (female genital folds) came from the same Latin root, since the labia resemble small lips.

First known use

1590

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun