This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
shin
1[ shin ]
/ ʃɪn /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
the front part of the leg from the knee to the ankle.
the lower part of the foreleg in cattle.
the shinbone or tibia, especially its sharp edge or front portion.
Chiefly British. a cut of beef similar to the U.S. shank, usually cut into small pieces for stewing.
verb (used with or without object), shinned, shin·ning.
to climb by holding fast with the hands or arms and legs and drawing oneself up.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of shin
1before 1000; Middle English shine,Old English scinu; cognate with Dutch scheen,German Schien(bein)
Words nearby shin
Other definitions for shin (2 of 4)
shin2
[ sheen, shin ]
/ ʃin, ʃɪn /
noun
the 21st letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
the consonant sound represented by this letter.
Origin of shin
21895–1900; <Hebrew shīn, akin to shēn tooth
Other definitions for shin (3 of 4)
Shin
[ shin, sheen ]
/ ʃɪn, ʃin /
noun Buddhism.
a Japanese offshoot of the Pure Land Sect, requiring only faith in Amida for salvation through his accumulated merit.
Origin of Shin
1895–1900; <Japanese: literally, faith <Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese zhēn truth
Other definitions for shin (4 of 4)
shīn
[ sheen ]
/ ʃin /
noun
the 13th letter of the Arabic alphabet.
Origin of shīn
From Arabic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use shin in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for shin (1 of 2)
shin1
/ (ʃɪn) /
noun
the front part of the lower leg
the front edge of the tibia
mainly British a cut of beef, the lower foreleg
verb shins, shinning or shinned
(when intr, often foll by up) to climb (a pole, tree, etc) by gripping with the hands or arms and the legs and hauling oneself up
(tr) to kick (a person) in the shins
Word Origin for shin
Old English scinu; related to Old High German scina needle, Norwegian dialect skina small disc
British Dictionary definitions for shin (2 of 2)
shin2
/ (ʃɪn) /
noun
the 21st letter in the Hebrew alphabet (ש), transliterated as sh
Word Origin for shin
from Hebrew shīn, literally: tooth
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