labial

1 of 2

adjective

la·​bi·​al ˈlā-bē-əl How to pronounce labial (audio)
1
: uttered with the participation of one or both lips
the labial sounds \f\, \p\, and \ü\
2
: of, relating to, or situated near the lips or labia
labially adverb

labial

2 of 2

noun

: a labial consonant

Examples of labial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Viewers could peer through a labial fold in the sculpture at an illuminated scene contained within. Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2022 All the figures expose indented vulvas with no labial interface; breasts have no nipples. Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2021 Notably, female bonobos have massive, cantaloupe-sized labial swellings and prominent clitorises that can reach two and a half inches when erect. Rachel E. Gross, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2022 Some are revealed to have long, squiggly tails — spermatozoa, perhaps, which resonate against the labial form that Rist designed for the lights. Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2021 The gallery puts Hesse’s and Wilke’s work in separate rooms—and in Wilke’s, the labial folds abound. Sophie Madeline Dess, The New Republic, 18 May 2021 Honold had sustained extensive injuries—one of which Linda Walther, the nurse who examined her at the hospital, had never seen before: a torn labial frenulum, which connects the inside of the upper lip to the gums. Barbara Bradley Hagerty, The Atlantic, 15 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'labial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin labialis, from Latin labium lip

First Known Use

Adjective

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of labial was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near labial

Cite this Entry

“Labial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labial. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

labial

adjective
la·​bi·​al
ˈlā-bē-əl
: of or relating to the lips or labia

Medical Definition

labial

adjective
la·​bi·​al ˈlā-bē-əl How to pronounce labial (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or situated near the lips or labia
2
: uttered with the participation of one or both lips
the labial sounds \f\, \p\, and \ü\
labially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on labial

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