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• chin
  chin

  noun

  the lower extremity of the face, below the mouth.
• ch'in
  ch'in

  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.
• Chin
  Chin

  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).
• Ch'in
  Ch'in

  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.
• Chin.
  Chin.

  abbreviation

  China.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Chin. ⁵ American  

Or Chin.

abbreviation

1. China.

2. Chinese.

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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

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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 British  

abbreviation

1. China

2. Chinese

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chin More Idioms  

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

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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 ( see genial ², -gnathous), Sanskrit hanus jaw

Origin of ch'in²

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

Explanation

Your chin is the somewhat pointy part of your jaw at the bottom of your face, below your mouth. When a man has a bushy beard, it usually covers his cheeks and his chin. Humans are unique in having a chin — it's thought to have evolved in part from our habit of using speech. When chin is a verb, it means to do a pull up on an exercise bar, lifting your full weight until your chin touches the bar. In the late 16th century, to chin meant to affectionately rub chins with someone else, and in 1880s American slang, it also meant "to gossip."

Example Sentences

Not long after, Gray, in a plaid mini, is also posing at the photographers’ request, switching effortlessly between signature Gen Z stances, chin resting atop a bent hand.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

Between “Beef” and a few other TV shows and movies, the marriage industrial complex is really taking it on the chin this spring.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

"We stayed to guard our soil," her daughter Najat al-Nour, a Quran professor in her fifties who lifted her chin high to admonish those who left.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Whether the power that once dropped Deontay Wilder multiple times has waned, or Makhmudov simply showed a stubborn chin under sustained pressure, Fury couldn't find the breakthrough.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

He thrust his chin up toward the second floor.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu