English Explanatory Dictionary

mug

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A large cup for beverages, usually having a handle and used without a saucer.
  2. The face.
  3. A gullible or easily cheated person.
  4. A stupid or contemptible person.
  5. A criminal.
  6. A mug shot.
verb
  1. To strike in the face.
  2. To assault for the purpose of robbery.
  3. To exaggerate a facial expression for communicative emphasis; to make a face, to pose, as for photographs or in a performance, in an exaggerated or affected manner.
  4. To photograph for identification; to take a mug shot of.
  5. To learn or review a subject as much as possible in a short time; cram.
adj
  1. Easily fooled, gullible.
  2. Uninteresting or unpleasant.
noun
  1. Motherfucker (usually in similes, e.g. "like a mug" or "as a mug")
noun
  1. Alternative form of Magh.

Pronunciation

mŭg /mʌɡ/ en-us-mug.ogg en-au-mug.ogg

Word forms

mug mugs mugging mugged mugger muggest

Etymology

Early 16th century (originally Scots and northern English, denoting "earthenware, pot, jug"), of unknown origin, perhaps from North Germanic (compare Swedish mugg (“mug, jug”), Norwegian mugge (“pitcher, open can for warm drinks”), Danish mugge), or Low German mokke, mukke (“mug”), German Low German Muck (“drinking cup”), Dutch mok (“mug”), also of unknown origin. Perhaps related to Old English muga (“stack”) and Old Norse múgr (“mass, heap (of corn)”). Compare also Middle English mug, mog (“a measure of salt”).

Synonyms

mush dial phiz chump chumpion cousin cull cully dupe dotterel easy mark fall guy fish gudgeon gull juggins live one mark mug muggins pigeon rube sap saphead schlemiel sheep simp Simple Simon soft touch steamer stiff stooge sucker

Related words

cup pannikin

Derived words

builder's mug magic mug mugaccino mug cake mugful mughouse mug-hunting mugless mugup mugware mugweed thundermug toothmug gigglemug mug book mugfaker mug shot mug-shotted mug's game chug mean-mug muggable muggee mugger mug off mug up unmugged
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