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, 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.

ch'in

²

[chin, 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

(Pinyin) Jin

[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

(Pinyin) Qin

[chin, 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

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

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

4. informal,  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

1. China

2. Chinese

Other Word Forms

• chinless adjective
• underchin 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,

   1. to suffer defeat; fail completely.

   2. to endure suffering or punishment.

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

Example Sentences

The soft flesh of her cheeks and mouth contrasts with her firm chin, and her knowing, distant gaze contains a hint of melancholy.

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Hope, hard work and American ingenuity kept chins high and eyes shining as the ceremonial Parade of Ships set sail across the Delaware River.

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He has braces on his teeth, blond hair cut in the middle and hints on his chin that he might one day need to shave.

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The Medicare Advantage business has taken it in on the chin in the past two or three years, and is probably turning a corner.

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She had begun to recognize individual chimps, and on a rainy October day in 1960, she spotted the one with white hair on his chin.

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