chin

[ chin ]

/ tʃɪn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR chin ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the lower extremity of the face, below the mouth.

the prominence of the lower jaw.

Informal. chin-up.

verb (used with object), chinned, chin·ning.

Gymnastics.

to bring one's chin up to (a horizontal bar, from which one is hanging by the hands), by bending the elbows.
to raise (oneself) to this position.

to raise or hold to the chin, as a violin.

Archaic. to talk to; chatter with.

verb (used without object), chinned, chin·ning.

Gymnastics. to chin oneself.

Slang. to talk; chatter: We sat up all night chinning about our college days.

Nearby words

chimneypiece, chimneypot, chimp, chimpanzee, chimu, chin, chin ball, chin cactus, chin cough, chin hills, chin muscle

Idioms

keep one's chin up, to maintain a cheerful disposition in spite of difficulties, disappointments, etc.Also chin up.

take it on the chin, Informal.

to suffer defeat; fail completely.
to endure suffering or punishment.

Origin of chin

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 (see genial², -gnathous), Sanskrit hanus jaw

Related formschin·less, adjectiveun·der·chin, noun

Definition for chin (2 of 5)

Chin

or Jin

[ jin ]

/ dʒɪn /

noun

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).

a dynasty that ruled in China 1115–1234.

Definition for chin (3 of 5)

Chin.

or Chin.

China.

Chinese.

Definition for chin (4 of 5)

ch'in

[ chin; Chinese cheen ]

/ tʃɪn; Chinese tʃin /

noun

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.

Origin of ch'in

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

Definition for chin (5 of 5)

Ch'in

[ chin; Chinese cheen ]

/ tʃɪn; Chinese tʃin /

noun

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.

Also Qin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chin

His chin rested on the thick plastic collar buckled around his neck.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“There aren't any steaks involved, pardon the pun,” says Chin.
Adventure Photographer Jimmy Chin: Defying the Rational, Physically and Creatively|Oliver Jones|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We were exhausted, but it was something I just had to do,” says Chin.
Adventure Photographer Jimmy Chin: Defying the Rational, Physically and Creatively|Oliver Jones|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The first time I saw Glacier National Park, it was the magical fantasy land I had always been dreaming about,” says Chin.
Adventure Photographer Jimmy Chin: Defying the Rational, Physically and Creatively|Oliver Jones|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Ina drove me in, I got out of the car, and [the boxes] just reached up to my chin.
‘The Power Broker’ Turns 40: How Robert Caro Wrote a Masterpiece|Scott Porch|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She sobbed; he lifted her chin with his free hand—and what less could mortal apostle do?
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Then a little trickle of blood ran from his lips down his chin.
A Crime of the Under-seas|Guy Boothby
Arethusa propped her elbows on the high counter, and rested her chin on them so she could regard his work.
The Heart of Arethusa|Francis Barton Fox
He had a dark moustache, and his chin was square and well-developed.
The Fortunes of the Farrells|Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
"If it is not bad, it is foolish," said Darius, resting his chin upon his hand and leaning forward.
Marzio's Crucifix and Zoroaster|F. Marion Crawford

British Dictionary definitions for chin (1 of 2)

chin

/ (tʃɪn) /

noun

the protruding part of the lower jaw

the front part of the face below the lipsRelated adjective: genial

keep one's chin up to keep cheerful under difficult circumstancesSometimes shortened to: chin up!

take it on the chin informal to face squarely up to a defeat, adversity, etc

verb chins, chinning or chinned

gymnastics to raise one's chin to (a horizontal bar, etc) when hanging by the arms

(tr) informal to punch or hit (someone) on the chin

Word Origin for chin

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

British Dictionary definitions for chin (2 of 2)

Chin.

abbreviation for

China

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

Word Origin and History for chin (1 of 2)

chin

Old English cin, cinn "chin" (but in some compounds suggesting an older, broader sense of "jawbone"); a general Germanic word (cf. Old Saxon and Old High German kinni; Old Norse kinn; German Kinn "chin;" Gothic kinnus "cheek"), from PIE root *genu- "chin, jawbone" (cf. Sanskrit hanuh, Avestan zanu- "chin;" Armenian cnawt "jawbone, cheek;" Lithuanian žándas "jawbone;" Greek genus "lower jaw," geneion "chin;" Old Irish gin "mouth," Welsh gen "jawbone, chin").

Word Origin and History for chin (1 of 2)

chin

1590s, "to press (affectionately) chin to chin," from chin (n.). Meaning "to bring to the chin" (of a fiddle) is from 1869. Slang meaning "talk, gossip" is from 1883, American English. Related: Chinned; chinning. Athletic sense of "raise one's chin over" (a raised bar, for exercise) is from 1880s.

chin

noun

verb (used with object), chinned, chin·ning.

verb (used without object), chinned, chin·ning.

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of chin

Definition for chin (2 of 5)

Chin

or Jin

noun

Definition for chin (3 of 5)

Chin.

or Chin.

Definition for chin (4 of 5)

ch'in

noun

Origin of ch'in

Definition for chin (5 of 5)

Ch'in

noun

Examples from the Web for chin

British Dictionary definitions for chin (1 of 2)

chin

noun

verb chins, chinning or chinned

Word Origin for chin

British Dictionary definitions for chin (2 of 2)

Chin.

abbreviation for

Word Origin and History for chin (1 of 2)

chin

Word Origin and History for chin (1 of 2)

chin

Medicine definitions for chin

chin

n.

Idioms and Phrases with chin

chin