pin
a small, slender, often pointed piece of wood, metal, etc., used to fasten, support, or attach things.
a short, slender piece of wire with a point at one end and a head at the other, for fastening things together.
any of various forms of fasteners or ornaments consisting essentially or partly of a pointed or penetrating wire or shaft (often used in combination): a jeweled pin.
a badge having a pointed bar or pin attached, by which it is fastened to the clothing: a fraternity pin.
Digital Technology. a photo or link that is bookmarked on Pinterest, a website and mobile application: She added 5 pins to her recipes board.
Machinery.
a short metal rod, as a linchpin, driven through holes in adjacent parts, as a hub and an axle, to keep the parts together.
a short axle, as one on which a pulley rotates in a block.
the part of a cylindrical key stem entering a lock.
a clothespin.
a hairpin.
a peg, nail, or stud marking the center of a target.
Bowling. any one of the rounded wooden clubs set up as the target in tenpins, ninepins, duckpins, etc.
Golf. the flag staff which identifies a hole.
any of the projecting knobs or rails on a pinball machine that serve as targets for the ball.
Informal. a human leg.
Music. peg (def. 5).
Wrestling. a fall.
Nautical.
an axle for a sheave of a block.
Carpentry. a tenon in a dovetail joint; dovetail.
a very small amount; a trifle: Such insincere advice isn't worth a pin.
Chess. the immobilization of an enemy piece by attacking with one's queen, rook, or bishop.
Electronics. a pin-shaped connection, as the terminals on the base of an electron tube or the connections on an integrated circuit.
to fasten or attach with or as with a pin or pins: to pin two pieces of cloth together.
to hold fast in a spot or position (sometimes followed by down): The debris pinned him down.
to transfix or mount with a pin or the like: to pin a flower as a botanical specimen.
Chess. to immobilize (an enemy piece) by placing one's queen, rook, or bishop in a position to check the exposed king or capture a valuable piece if the pinned piece were moved.
Wrestling. to secure a fall over one's opponent.
Digital Technology.
to bookmark (a photo or link) on Pinterest, a website and mobile application: He pinned a jacket from Macy's on his fashion board.
to fix (a social media post) to the top of a feed: She pinned a tweet about her forthcoming book to the top of her Twitter feed.
Digital Technology. to bookmark a photo or link on Pinterest: I've been pinning a lot lately.
pin down,
to bind or hold to a course of action, a promise, etc.
to force (someone) to deal with a situation or to come to a decision: We tried to pin him down for a definite answer, but he was too evasive for us.
pin in, to fill (gaps in a rubble wall, etc.) with spalls.
pin up, to make (a piece of masonry) level or plumb with wedges.
Idioms about pin
get pinned,
(of a young woman) to receive a male student's fraternity pin as a symbol of his affection and fidelity, usually symbolizing that the couple is going steady or plans to become engaged.
(of a young couple) to become formally pledged to one another, though not yet engaged, by the bestowing of such a pin or the exchange of pins.
pin something on someone, Informal. to ascribe the blame or guilt for something to a person; show someone to be culpable: They pinned the crime on him.
pull the pin, Informal. to end a relationship, project, program, or the like, because of lack of continuing interest, success, funds, etc.
Origin of pin
1Other words for pin
Other words from pin
- re·pin, verb (used with object), re·pinned, re·pin·ning.
Words Nearby pin
Other definitions for PIN (2 of 2)
a number assigned to an individual, used to establish identity in order to gain access to a computer system via an automatic teller machine, a point-of-sale terminal, or other device.
Origin of PIN
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pin in a sentence
It was a massive hit, and the safety-pin dress a brilliant cartoonish cherry on top of it.
Happy 20th Birthday, Liz Hurley’s Safety-Pin Dress | Tim Teeman | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe online community of tattooed pin-up models turned 13 this year.
Masters of Alt Sex: SuicideGirls Hits Puberty and Wants to Invade Your TV Set | Marlow Stern | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn other news, black and white pin-up shots are now officially less valuable than life-size Tiger Beat tear outs.
Justin Bieber Isn’t Even 21, Yet Makes More Money Than Meryl Streep | Amy Zimmerman | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTShe had low-grade blood poisoning in her ear from the pin she used to pierce it.
‘My Crazy Love’ Reveals the Craziest Lies People Tell for Love | Kevin Fallon | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTLorna planted several pin flags, then we continued cruising.
Knowing Where the Bodies Are Buried: An Excerpt From 'Lives in Ruins' | Marilyn Johnson | November 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Though, as everybody well knew, the doctor had forbidden her to lift so much as a pin!
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinHe held the pin delicately between finger and thumb, and controlled her with his roguish eyes.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeThe scolex is about the size of a pin-head, and is surrounded by four sucking discs, but has no hooklets (Fig. 96).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddA grain—requiring to be picked out with a pin and microscope—of truth, with a bushel of bunkum or cant.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.Welcome jerked himself away from the book, whirled around on his wooden pin and pointed his knife at the book-shelves.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run | Stanley R. Matthews
British Dictionary definitions for pin (1 of 3)
/ (pɪn) /
a short stiff straight piece of wire pointed at one end and either rounded or having a flattened head at the other: used mainly for fastening pieces of cloth, paper, etc, esp temporarily
(in combination): pinhole
short for cotter pin, hairpin, panel pin, rolling pin, safety pin
an ornamental brooch, esp a narrow one
a badge worn fastened to the clothing by a pin
something of little or no importance (esp in the phrases not care or give a pin (for))
a peg or dowel
anything resembling a pin in shape, function, etc
(in various bowling games) a usually club-shaped wooden object set up in groups as a target
Also called: cotter pin, safety pin a clip on a hand grenade that prevents its detonation until removed or released
nautical
See belaying pin
the axle of a sheave
the sliding closure for a shackle
music a metal tuning peg on a piano, the end of which is inserted into a detachable key by means of which it is turned
surgery a metal rod, esp of stainless steel, for holding together adjacent ends of fractured bones during healing
chess a position in which a piece is pinned against a more valuable piece or the king
golf the flagpole marking the hole on a green
the cylindrical part of a key that enters a lock
the cylindrical part of a lock where this part of the key fits
wrestling a position in which a person is held tight or immobile, esp with both shoulders touching the ground
a dovetail tenon used to make a dovetail joint
(in Britain) a miniature beer cask containing 4 1/2 gallons
(usually plural) informal a leg
be put to the pin on one's collar Irish to be forced to make an extreme effort
to attach, hold, or fasten with or as if with a pin or pins
to transfix with a pin, spear, etc
(foll by on) informal to place (the blame for something): he pinned the charge on his accomplice
chess to cause (an enemy piece) to be effectively immobilized by attacking it with a queen, rook, or bishop so that moving it would reveal a check or expose a more valuable piece to capture
Also: underpin to support (masonry), as by driving in wedges over a beam
Origin of pin
1- See also pin down
British Dictionary definitions for p-i-n (2 of 3)
p-type, intrinsic, n-type: a form of construction of semiconductor devices
British Dictionary definitions for PIN (3 of 3)
/ (pɪn) /
personal identification number: a number used by a holder of a cash card or credit card used in EFTPOS
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with pin
In addition to the idioms beginning with pin
- pin back one's ears
- pin down
- pin money
- pin on
- pin one's heart on
- pin one's hopes on
- pin someone's ears back
also see:
- hear a pin drop
- on pins and needles
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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