chin

¹

[ chin ]

noun

1. the lower extremity of the face, below the mouth.
2. the prominence of the lower jaw.
3. Informal. chin-up.

verb (used with object)

, chinned, chin·ning.

1. Gymnastics.
   1. to bring one's chin up to (a horizontal bar, from which one is hanging by the hands), by bending the elbows.
   2. to raise (oneself ) to this position.
2. to raise or hold to the chin, as a violin.
3. Archaic. to talk to; chatter with.

verb (used without object)

, chinned, chin·ning.

1. Gymnastics. to chin oneself.
2. Slang. to talk; chatter:

   We sat up all night chinning about our college days.

ch'in

²

[ chin; Chinese cheen ]

noun

1. a Chinese zither consisting of an oblong, slightly curved wooden box over which are stretched strings that are stopped with one hand and plucked with the other.

Chin

³

[ jin ]

noun

1. Also Tsin []. any of three dynasties that ruled in China, a.d. 265–316 (the Western Chin), a.d. 317–420 (the Eastern Chin), and a.d. 936–46 (the Later Chin).
2. a dynasty that ruled in China 1115–1234.

Ch'in

⁴

[ chin; Chinese cheen ]

noun

1. a dynasty in ancient China, 221–206 b.c., marked by the emergence of a unified empire and the construction of much of the Great Wall of China.

Chin.

⁵

or Chin.

abbreviation for

1. China.
2. Chinese.

chin

¹

/ tʃɪn /

noun

1. the protruding part of the lower jaw
2. the front part of the face below the lips genial
3. keep one's chin up
   keep one's chin up to keep cheerful under difficult circumstances Sometimes shortened tochin up!
4. take it on the chin informal.
   take it on the chin to face squarely up to a defeat, adversity, etc

verb

1. gymnastics to raise one's chin to (a horizontal bar, etc) when hanging by the arms
2. informal.
   tr to punch or hit (someone) on the chin

Chin.

²

abbreviation for

1. China
2. Chinese

Other Words From

• chinless adjective
• under·chin noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chin¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English cin ( n ); cognate with Dutch kin, German Kinn chin, Old Norse kinn, Gothic kinnus cheek, Latin gena, Greek génus chin, gnáthos jaw ( genial ², -gnathous ), Sanskrit hanus jaw

Origin of chin²

From Chinese (Wade-Giles) ch'in2, (Pinyin) qín

Word History and Origins

Origin of chin¹

Old English cinn; related to Old Norse kinn, Old High German kinni, Latin gena cheek, Old Irish gin mouth, Sanskrit hanu

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. keep one's chin up, to maintain a cheerful disposition in spite of difficulties, disappointments, etc. Also chin up.
2. take it on the chin, Informal.
   1. to suffer defeat; fail completely.
   2. to endure suffering or punishment.

More idioms and phrases containing chin

see keep one's chin up ; lead with one's chin ; take it on the chin .

Example Sentences

At Christianity Today, Peter Chin claims Christians should preach peace instead of bogging down in the particulars of race.

From The Daily Beast

His chin rested on the thick plastic collar buckled around his neck.

From The Daily Beast

“There aren't any steaks involved, pardon the pun,” says Chin.

From The Daily Beast

“We were exhausted, but it was something I just had to do,” says Chin.

From The Daily Beast

“The first time I saw Glacier National Park, it was the magical fantasy land I had always been dreaming about,” says Chin.

From The Daily Beast

Only in the carnage of the head, the tilt of the chin, was the insolence expressed that had made her many enemies.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he clapped his fiddle under his chin and without more ado struck up "Bobbing Joan."

From Project Gutenberg

And, old ink pot, tuck a horse blanket under my chin, and rub me down with brickbats while I feed!

From Project Gutenberg

He stepped to the girl, and roughly raised her chin with his hand so that she was forced to look him in the face.

From Project Gutenberg

Ze under lip rather retires, and this adds to the receding effect of the chin, you see.

From Project Gutenberg