chin

[ chin ]

/ tʃɪn /

Save This Word!

See 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.

QUIZ

TEST YOUR MERIT ON THESE NEW WORDS IN 2021

The Dictionary added new words and definition to our vast collection, and we want to see how well-versed you are in the formally recognized new lingo. Take the quiz!

Question 1 of 8

What does JEDI stand for?

justice, equity, diversity, inclusion

justice, energy, determination, instruction

joy, equality, diversity, involvement

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Idioms about chin

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

OTHER WORDS FROM chin

chinless, adjectiveun·der·chin, noun

Words nearby chin

chimney swift, chimney wheel, chimp, chimpanzee, Chimu, chin, china, China aster, china bark, chinaberry, china blue

Other definitions for chin (2 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

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

Other definitions for chin (3 of 5)

Chin

[ jin ]

/ dʒɪn /

noun

Also Tsin

[jin] /dʒɪn/ . 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.

Also (Pinyin) Jin .

Other definitions for chin (4 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 (Pinyin) Qin

[chin] /tʃɪn/ .

Other definitions for chin (5 of 5)

Chin.

or Chin.

abbreviation

China.

Chinese.

How to use chin in a sentence

Chin’s assailants received a fine and probation for his death.
‘Nobody came, nobody helped’: Fears of anti-Asian violence rattle the community|Marian Liu, Rachel Hatzipanagos|February 25, 2021|Washington Post
“I was 12 years old, and I couldn’t stop staring at the wattles on his chin,” Kolman said.
The Murder Chicago Didn’t Want to Solve|by Mick Dumke|February 25, 2021|ProPublica
It should go across the bridge of your nose, it should form a seal across your nose and go under your chin.
Is It Time to Wear a Better Mask for COVID-19? We Asked the Experts|Tara Law|February 8, 2021|Time
Some of the Maryland fans watched with their hands clasped under their chins.
Darryl Morsell’s parents attended his first 97 Maryland games. The pandemic ended the streak.|Emily Giambalvo|February 4, 2021|Washington Post

As Chin says, it takes a very specific patient to be a good candidate to use FAMs as contraception.
Bachelor Stars Are Promoting a Birth Control App on Instagram That Experts Say Uses One of the Least Effective Contraceptive Methods|Megan McCluskey|February 4, 2021|Time
At Christianity Today, Peter Chin claims Christians should preach peace instead of bogging down in the particulars of race.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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
Only in the carnage of the head, the tilt of the chin, was the insolence expressed that had made her many enemies.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Then he clapped his fiddle under his chin and without more ado struck up "Bobbing Joan."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
And, old ink pot, tuck a horse blanket under my chin, and rub me down with brickbats while I feed!
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
He stepped to the girl, and roughly raised her chin with his hand so that she was forced to look him in the face.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Ze under lip rather retires, and this adds to the receding effect of the chin, you see.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

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

Medical definitions for chin

chin

[ chĭn ]

The prominence formed by the anterior projection of the lower jaw.

Other Idioms and Phrases with chin

chin

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

chin

Idioms about chin

Origin of chin

OTHER WORDS FROM chin

Words nearby chin

Other definitions for chin (2 of 5)

Origin of ch'in

Other definitions for chin (3 of 5)

Other definitions for chin (4 of 5)

Other definitions for chin (5 of 5)

or Chin.

Words related to chin

How to use chin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chin (1 of 2)

Word Origin for chin

British Dictionary definitions for chin (2 of 2)

Medical definitions for chin

Other Idioms and Phrases with chin