shin

[ shin ]

/ ʃɪn /

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See synonyms for shin on Thesaurus.com

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.

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Origin of shin

before 1000; Middle English shine,Old English scinu; cognate with Dutch scheen,German Schien(bein)

Words nearby shin

Shimla, shimmer, shimmery, shimmy, Shimonoseki, shin, Shinar, shinbone, shindig, shindy, shine

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

1895–1900; <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. 2022

How to use shin in a sentence

She will wriggle under tables and press herself firmly against shins, calves, you name it.
For some dogs (and humans), the pandemic adoption rush was mostly a waiting game|Hau Chu|June 25, 2021|Washington Post
A few uses took care of lingering discomfort in my outer shin.
These Are Our Favorite Massage Guns|Christine Yu|June 2, 2021|Outside Online
The four muscles, the quadriceps — that come in the front of the knee that attach just beyond the knee, in the front of the shin — they have to fire constantly to give you some stability.
These Shoes Are Killing Me! (Ep. 296 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|May 20, 2021|Freakonomics
He then resisted two change-ups, both near his shins, and wiggled his hips from side to side.
For Juan Soto, the home runs and the hype don’t matter. The work does.|Jesse Dougherty|April 1, 2021|Washington Post

Each of DyRET’s four legs has two telescopic sections, so that it can change the length of its thigh or shin bones.
This Shape-Shifting Robot Can Rearrange Its Body to Walk in New Environments|David Howard|March 25, 2021|Singularity Hub
Shin eventually escaped North Korean captivity while in Vienna.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the most famous directors of this era was Shin Sang-ok (신상옥).
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Afraid the Korean secret police would not believe his kidnapping story, Shin settled in Hollywood.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An x-ray two hours later confirms my hunch: my tibia (the big bone behind the shin) is snapped clean in two.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So upon his release in 1997, Yousef agreed to a meeting with Shin Bet.
When the Son of Hamas Spied for Israel|Nina Strochlic|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
De yuther servants wouldn' miss me, kase dey'd shin out en take holiday soon as de ole folks 'uz out'n de way.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
There's a neat pile of shin-plasters getting bigger and mounting up all the time.
Menotah|Ernest G. Henham
Walk fast now till you get away from the houses, and then shin for the raft like the dickens was after you!
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Instead of rising to his feet, he sat doggedly up and began chafing his abraded shin.
The Fiend's Delight|Dod Grile
Other warriors carry long oval shields reaching, at least, from neck to shin.
Homer and His Age|Andrew Lang

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

Medical definitions for shin

shin

[ shĭn ]

The front part of the leg located below the knee and above the ankle.

The tibia.

shin

Origin of shin

Words nearby shin

Other definitions for shin (2 of 4)

Origin of shin

Other definitions for shin (3 of 4)

Origin of Shin

Other definitions for shin (4 of 4)

Origin of shīn

Words related to shin

How to use shin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shin (1 of 2)

Word Origin for shin

British Dictionary definitions for shin (2 of 2)

Word Origin for shin

Medical definitions for shin