the projecting part of the face, including the nose and mouth, of an animal such as a dog or horse, a device that is placed over an animal's mouth to prevent it from biting or making noise, the open end of a firearm where the bullets come out

put a muzzle on someone, keep a tight muzzle on something, remove the muzzle

Formal and Informal Expressions of muzzle

In different contexts, you can replace 'muzzle' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'snout, mouthpiece' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'chops, piehole' is a commonplace synonym.

muzzle: Explore its Definition & Usage

muzzle Definition

1the projecting part of the face, including the nose and mouth, of an animal such as a dog or horse
2a device that is placed over an animal's mouth to prevent it from biting or making noise
3the open end of a firearm where the bullets come out

Using muzzle: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "muzzle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The dog had a muzzle on to prevent it from biting.
Example
The horse's muzzle was wet with sweat.
Example
He aimed the gun's muzzle at the target.
Example
The police officer ordered the suspect to drop his weapon and put his hands behind his head, keeping the muzzle of his own gun trained on him.

muzzle Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for muzzle

Phrases with muzzle

put a muzzle on someone
to silence or restrain someone
Example
The company put a muzzle on their spokesperson after he made controversial comments.
keep a tight muzzle on something
to keep something secret or confidential
Example
The government kept a tight muzzle on the details of the classified operation.
remove the muzzle
to allow someone or something to speak freely or act without restraint
Example
The new policy removed the muzzle on employees' ability to express their opinions.

Origins of muzzle

from Middle English 'musel', from Old French 'musel', diminutive of 'gueule', meaning 'mouth'

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Summary: muzzle in Brief

The term 'muzzle' [ˈmʌzl] refers to the projecting part of an animal's face, a device used to prevent biting or noise-making, or the open end of a firearm. Examples include 'The dog had a muzzle on to prevent it from biting.' 'Put a muzzle on someone' means to silence or restrain them, while 'remove the muzzle' means to allow free expression or action.