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Synonyms

chin

1 American  
[chin] / tʃɪn /

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, chinning
  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, chinning
  1. Gymnastics.  to chin oneself.

  2. Slang.  to talk; chatter.

    We sat up all night chinning about our college days.

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,

    1. to suffer defeat; fail completely.

    2. to endure suffering or punishment.

ch'in 2 American  
[chin, cheen] / tʃɪn, tʃin /

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 American  
[jin] / dʒɪn /
(Pinyin) 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 American  
[chin, cheen] / tʃɪn, tʃin /
(Pinyin) Qin

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 American  
Or Chin.

abbreviation

  1. China.

  2. Chinese.


chin 1 British  
/ tʃɪn /

noun

  1. the protruding part of the lower jaw

  2. the front part of the face below the lips

  3. Sometimes shortened to: chin up!.  to keep cheerful under difficult circumstances

  4. informal  to face squarely up to a defeat, adversity, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Chin. 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. China

  2. Chinese

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

chin More Idioms  

Other Word Forms

  • chinless adjective
  • underchin noun

Etymology

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 ch'in2

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“When I put my chin down, it feels like I’ve been playing it for years.”

From Los Angeles Times

Finally, several healthcare stocks made the list despite being in a sector that has taken it on the chin this year.

From Barron's

"I think it's Morgan Rogers' shirt at this moment. You have got to do what is for the good of the team. Bellingham is going to have take it on the chin."

From BBC

"Bellingham is going to have to take it on the chin and just say 'ok, I'm going to have to change a little bit to fit in'."

From BBC

"I just thought 'this is it, this is Medomsley, just get on with it and take it on the chin'."

From BBC