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chine
1[ chahyn ]
/ tʃaɪn /
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noun British Dialect.
a ravine formed in rock by the action of running water.
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Origin of chine
1First recorded before 900; Middle English chine, chinne, chin, Old English cīne, cȳne “crevice, fissure”; cognate with Middle Dutch kēne; compare Old English cīnan “to gape, crack open”
Words nearby chine
Other definitions for chine (2 of 4)
chine2
[ chahyn ]
/ tʃaɪn /
noun
the backbone or spine, especially of an animal.
the whole or a piece of the backbone of an animal with adjoining parts, cut for cooking.
a ridge or crest, as of land.
Nautical.
- an angular intersection of the sides and bottom of a vessel.
- a longitudinal member running behind this.
verb (used with object), chined, chin·ing.
(in butchering) to sever the backbone of.
Origin of chine
2First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English chine, schine, Anglo-French achine, from Old French eschine, from Germanic; cf. shin1
Other definitions for chine (3 of 4)
Other definitions for chine (4 of 4)
chiné
[ shee-ney ]
/ ʃiˈneɪ /
adjective
noting or pertaining to a fabric having a variegated pattern produced by warp threads that have been dyed, printed, or painted before weaving.
Origin of chiné
1850–55; <French, past participle of chiner, verbal derivative of Chine China
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use chine in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for chine (1 of 4)
chine1
/ (tʃaɪn) /
noun
the backbone
the backbone of an animal with adjoining meat, cut for cooking
a ridge or crest of land
(in some boats) a corner-like intersection where the bottom meets the side
verb
(tr) to cut (meat) along or across the backbone
Word Origin for chine
C14: from Old French eschine, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German scina needle, shinbone; see shin 1
British Dictionary definitions for chine (2 of 4)
British Dictionary definitions for chine (3 of 4)
chine3
/ (tʃaɪn) /
noun
Southern English dialect a deep fissure in the wall of a cliff
Word Origin for chine
Old English cīnan to crack
British Dictionary definitions for chine (4 of 4)
chiné
/ (ˈʃiːneɪ) /
adjective
textiles having a mottled pattern
Word Origin for chiné
C19: from French chiner to make in the Chinese fashion, from Chine China
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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