pin
a small, slender, often pointed piece of wood, metal, etc., used to fasten, support, or attach things.
a short, slender piece of wire with a point at one end and a head at the other, for fastening things together.
any of various forms of fasteners or ornaments consisting essentially or partly of a pointed or penetrating wire or shaft (often used in combination): a jeweled pin.
a badge having a pointed bar or pin attached, by which it is fastened to the clothing: a fraternity pin.
Digital Technology. a photo or link that is bookmarked on Pinterest, a website and mobile application: She added 5 pins to her recipes board.
Machinery.
a short metal rod, as a linchpin, driven through holes in adjacent parts, as a hub and an axle, to keep the parts together.
a short axle, as one on which a pulley rotates in a block.
the part of a cylindrical key stem entering a lock.
a clothespin.
a hairpin.
a peg, nail, or stud marking the center of a target.
Bowling. any one of the rounded wooden clubs set up as the target in tenpins, ninepins, duckpins, etc.
Golf. the flag staff which identifies a hole.
any of the projecting knobs or rails on a pinball machine that serve as targets for the ball.
Informal. a human leg.
Music. peg (def. 5).
Wrestling. a fall.
Nautical.
an axle for a sheave of a block.
Carpentry. a tenon in a dovetail joint; dovetail.
a very small amount; a trifle: Such insincere advice isn't worth a pin.
Chess. the immobilization of an enemy piece by attacking with one's queen, rook, or bishop.
Electronics. a pin-shaped connection, as the terminals on the base of an electron tube or the connections on an integrated circuit.
to fasten or attach with or as with a pin or pins: to pin two pieces of cloth together.
to hold fast in a spot or position (sometimes followed by down): The debris pinned him down.
to transfix or mount with a pin or the like: to pin a flower as a botanical specimen.
Chess. to immobilize (an enemy piece) by placing one's queen, rook, or bishop in a position to check the exposed king or capture a valuable piece if the pinned piece were moved.
Wrestling. to secure a fall over one's opponent.
Digital Technology.
to bookmark (a photo or link) on Pinterest, a website and mobile application: He pinned a jacket from Macy's on his fashion board.
to fix (a social media post) to the top of a feed: She pinned a tweet about her forthcoming book to the top of her Twitter feed.
Digital Technology. to bookmark a photo or link on Pinterest: I've been pinning a lot lately.
pin down,
to bind or hold to a course of action, a promise, etc.
to force (someone) to deal with a situation or to come to a decision: We tried to pin him down for a definite answer, but he was too evasive for us.
pin in, to fill (gaps in a rubble wall, etc.) with spalls.
pin up, to make (a piece of masonry) level or plumb with wedges.
Idioms about pin
get pinned,
(of a young woman) to receive a male student's fraternity pin as a symbol of his affection and fidelity, usually symbolizing that the couple is going steady or plans to become engaged.
(of a young couple) to become formally pledged to one another, though not yet engaged, by the bestowing of such a pin or the exchange of pins.
pin something on someone, Informal. to ascribe the blame or guilt for something to a person; show someone to be culpable: They pinned the crime on him.
pull the pin, Informal. to end a relationship, project, program, or the like, because of lack of continuing interest, success, funds, etc.
Origin of pin
1Other words for pin
Other words from pin
- re·pin, verb (used with object), re·pinned, re·pin·ning.
Other definitions for PIN (2 of 2)
a number assigned to an individual, used to establish identity in order to gain access to a computer system via an automatic teller machine, a point-of-sale terminal, or other device.
Origin of PIN
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use pin in a sentence
Imprint whimsical holiday scenes – including detailed snowflakes, trees and reindeer – onto sugar cookies, pie crusts, and even pastas from solid beech wood rolling pins that’ll give Martha a run for her baking-maven money.
Perhaps at another time their seasons would be hopeful pins of light for a rebuilding team.
Ron Rivera could have spent big in free agency. Instead Washington’s bargains have paid off. | Les Carpenter | December 2, 2020 | Washington PostOr, if you’re deeply committed to making every inch of your first pie from scratch, you can roll up your sleeves, dust a rolling pin, and get to work.
Bringing this message to an ad-tech conference is a bit like bringing a safety pin to a balloon conference.
Does Advertising Actually Work? (Part 2: Digital) (Ep. 441) | Stephen J. Dubner | November 26, 2020 | FreakonomicsThe beetle is known for being so durable that it bends the steel pins usually used to mount insects for display, says Michael Caterino.
The diabolical ironclad beetle is nearly unsquishable | Maria Temming | November 23, 2020 | Science News For Students
But Khin Mar Cho is pinning her hopes on the international community.
He often made the compositions by pinning the pieces of paper he had cut directly onto the walls around him.
Team Obama is pinning its hopes on early voters; Team Romney is banking on high turnouts Nov. 6.
Hurricane Sandy, Women, Momentum & More Keys to a Romney Victory | Mark McKinnon | October 29, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTI think for Obama, pinning Romney down on his tax plan is key.
Amidst “all of this pinning and mapping,” Ben confesses to dread and hopelessness.
Jonathan Evison’s On the Road: ‘The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving’ | Kevin Canfield | September 14, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTHe tried to get hold of himself again—he talked to himself, pinning his attention on the task of his hands.
Love's Pilgrimage | Upton SinclairQuite suddenly came a soft sussuration overhead, a light-beam lanced down, pinning us there.
Valley of the Croen | Lee TarbellThere was an arrow pinning the Greek's left arm just below the elbow to the cushion, and the blood was flowing.
God Wills It! | William Stearns DavisIn this a man swathes himself, somewhat as a Highlander does in his plaid, pinning it over the shoulder and leaving the arms free.
In the Wrong Paradise | Andrew LangBut Mina kept hers on it, pinning it immovably to the table.
Tristram of Blent | Anthony Hope
British Dictionary definitions for pin (1 of 3)
/ (pɪn) /
a short stiff straight piece of wire pointed at one end and either rounded or having a flattened head at the other: used mainly for fastening pieces of cloth, paper, etc, esp temporarily
(in combination): pinhole
short for cotter pin, hairpin, panel pin, rolling pin, safety pin
an ornamental brooch, esp a narrow one
a badge worn fastened to the clothing by a pin
something of little or no importance (esp in the phrases not care or give a pin (for))
a peg or dowel
anything resembling a pin in shape, function, etc
(in various bowling games) a usually club-shaped wooden object set up in groups as a target
Also called: cotter pin, safety pin a clip on a hand grenade that prevents its detonation until removed or released
nautical
See belaying pin
the axle of a sheave
the sliding closure for a shackle
music a metal tuning peg on a piano, the end of which is inserted into a detachable key by means of which it is turned
surgery a metal rod, esp of stainless steel, for holding together adjacent ends of fractured bones during healing
chess a position in which a piece is pinned against a more valuable piece or the king
golf the flagpole marking the hole on a green
the cylindrical part of a key that enters a lock
the cylindrical part of a lock where this part of the key fits
wrestling a position in which a person is held tight or immobile, esp with both shoulders touching the ground
a dovetail tenon used to make a dovetail joint
(in Britain) a miniature beer cask containing 4 1/2 gallons
(usually plural) informal a leg
be put to the pin on one's collar Irish to be forced to make an extreme effort
to attach, hold, or fasten with or as if with a pin or pins
to transfix with a pin, spear, etc
(foll by on) informal to place (the blame for something): he pinned the charge on his accomplice
chess to cause (an enemy piece) to be effectively immobilized by attacking it with a queen, rook, or bishop so that moving it would reveal a check or expose a more valuable piece to capture
Also: underpin to support (masonry), as by driving in wedges over a beam
Origin of pin
1- See also pin down
British Dictionary definitions for p-i-n (2 of 3)
p-type, intrinsic, n-type: a form of construction of semiconductor devices
British Dictionary definitions for PIN (3 of 3)
/ (pɪn) /
personal identification number: a number used by a holder of a cash card or credit card used in EFTPOS
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with pin
In addition to the idioms beginning with pin
- pin back one's ears
- pin down
- pin money
- pin on
- pin one's heart on
- pin one's hopes on
- pin someone's ears back
also see:
- hear a pin drop
- on pins and needles
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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