muzzle
muzzle — noun
- muzzlesingular
- muzzlesplural
1. the front part of an animal's face that includes the nose, mouth, and jaws, espe
the front part of an animal's face that includes the nose, mouth, and jaws, especially on dogs, horses, and other four-legged creatures.
Leo stroked his golden retriever's warm muzzle while they waited for the vet.
Horses use their long muzzles to reach grass growing close to the ground.
collocation: long muzzle
The vet gently examined the horse's muzzle for swelling after the fall.
A dark patch of fur ran from the wolf's muzzle all the way to its forehead.
When the puppy yawned, little Sofia could see the pink roof of its muzzle.
2. a device placed around an animal's snout, usually made of leather, plastic, or w
a device placed around an animal's snout, usually made of leather, plastic, or wire, that stops animals from biting humans or picking up harmful objects with their mouths.
The shelter requires all adopted dogs to wear a muzzle during their first vet visit.
collocation: wear a muzzle
Yuki carefully fastened the leather muzzle around her husky's snout before the walk.
The trainer explained that a muzzle protects both the dog and the people around it.
Kwame's puppy wore a soft muzzle while the groomer trimmed the fur around its face.
- mouth guard
less common; can refer to protective gear for human athletes and is not specific to animals
用法筆記
In many countries, certain dog breeds are required by law to wear a muzzle in public spaces.
3. the front opening of a gun, from which the bullet or shot exits when the weapon
the front opening of a gun, from which the bullet or shot exits when the weapon is fired.
The soldier aimed at the target by keeping his eye aligned with the rifle muzzle.
compound noun: rifle muzzle
Police officers are trained to always point the muzzle of their weapon away from their own body.
Smoke rose from the muzzle of Clara's shotgun after she fired at the clay target.
The gun's muzzle was fitted with a silencer to reduce the noise of each shot.
- barrel end
more general term; 'muzzle' is the specific technical term for the front opening
用法筆記
Common in compound technical terms such as 'muzzle flash' (the light produced when a gun is fired), 'muzzle velocity' (the speed of a bullet as it leaves the barrel), and 'muzzle brake' (a device that reduces recoil).
muzzle — verb
- muzzlepresent simple I / you / we / they
- muzzles3rd person singular
- muzzling-ing form
- muzzledpast simple
1. to fasten a muzzle over the mouth and nose of an animal so it cannot bite or eat
to fasten a muzzle over the mouth and nose of an animal so it cannot bite or eat things.
The vet muzzled the frightened dog before examining the cut on its paw.
transitive: muzzle + animal before action
Local law requires dog owners to muzzle their pets when walking them in public parks.
Deepak gently muzzled his German shepherd during the fireworks to keep it from biting.
The rescue team muzzled the stray dog before taking it safely to the animal shelter.
文法句型
muzzle + animal
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the passive voice: 'All dogs must be muzzled while on public transport.'
2. to deliberately stop an individual or group from voicing their opinions by apply
to deliberately stop an individual or group from voicing their opinions by applying rules, threats, or pressure from those in power.
The government tried to muzzle journalists who were reporting on the company scandal.
metaphorical: muzzle + journalists / the press
The school's strict rules unfairly muzzled student voices in the campus newspaper.
Noor felt that the new policy muzzled open debate among climate researchers at the conference.
Amara accused the committee of trying to muzzle public discussion on the housing shortage.
- silence
broader in meaning; can be achieved through any means including violence, whereas 'muzzle' implies restriction through rules or authority
- gag
more specific to legal suppression of speech, often through a court order ('gag order'); stronger and more dramatic than 'muzzle'
- censor
focuses on removing or blocking content (writing, films, news) before it reaches an audience, not on silencing people directly
- stifle
suggests suppressing something that is starting to grow or develop, rather than actively imposing controls
文法句型
muzzle + person/organization
用法筆記
Used metaphorically. The subject is typically a government, authority figure, or institution that restricts freedom of expression. The object can be people ('journalists', 'critics'), groups ('the opposition', 'activists'), or abstract nouns ('dissent', 'debate').