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pin Definition

pin (pin)

noun

  1. a peg of wood, metal, etc., used esp. for fastening or holding things together or as a support on which to hang things
  2. a little piece of stiff wire with a pointed end and a flattened or rounded head, used for fastening things together or holding them in place; straight pin
  3. something worthless or insignificant; trifle
  4. a pointed instrument for holding the hair, a hat, etc. in place
  5. clothespin, safety pin, cotter pin, etc.
  6. anything like a pin in form, use, etc.
  7. an ornament, badge, or emblem having a pin or clasp with which it is fastened to the clothing
  8. Informal the leg: usually used in pl.
  9. Bowling any of the bottle-shaped pieces of wood, or wood coated with plastic, at which the ball is rolled
  10. Golf a pole with a flag attached, placed in the hole of a green to mark its location
  11. Med. a metal rod used to hold a broken bone together
  12. Music any of the pegs for regulating the tension of the strings of a piano, harp, etc.
  13. Naut.
    1. thole
    2. any of various pegs or rods used to secure ropes
  14. Wrestling fall ()

Etymology: ME pyn < OE pinn, akin to MHG pfinne, a nail, prob. < IE base *bend-, projecting point > MIr benn, peak

transitive verb pinned, pin′·ning

  1. to fasten with or as with a pin
  2. to pierce with a pin
  3. to hold firmly in one place or position
  4. ☆ Slang to give one's fraternity pin to, as an informal token of betrothal

pin Idioms

pin down

  1. to get (someone) to make a decision, commitment, etc.
  2. to determine or confirm (a fact, details, etc.)

pin someone's ears back

☆

Informal to beat, defeat, or scold someone soundly

pin something on someone

Informal to lay the blame for something on someone

PIN Definition

PIN (pin)

noun

an identification number entered on a keypad in order to gain access to a computer, ATM, etc.

Etymology: p(ersonal) i(dentification) n(umber)

pin Synonyms

pin

n.

  1. A device to fasten goods by piercing or clasping

    clip, catch, needle, bodkin, quill, clasp, nail; see also fastener.

    Kinds of pins include: common, safety, straight, hat, knitting, hair, clothes, bobby, toggle, cotter, push.

  2. A piece of jewelry

    tiepin, stickpin, brooch, fibula, ouch, badge, stud, sorority pin, fraternity pin, school pin; see also jewelry.

  3. A rod inserted through a prepared hole

    bolt, bar, dowel; see brace 1.

pin Synonyms

pin

v.

close, clasp, bind; see fasten 1.

PIN Finance Definition
See personal identification number.
PIN (Positive Intrinsic Negative) Telecom Definition
A type of diode used as a light detector in optical transmission systems. A PIN comprises three layers of semiconducting material in the forward current-carrying direction. The first layer is chemically doped, i.e., infused with impurities, to create a positive (p) electromagnetic region.The second layer is either undoped or lightly doped to retain its intrinsic (i) properties and, therefore, is neither strongly positive nor strongly negative. The third layer is doped to create a negative (n) electromagnetic region. So, the diode structure is Positive, Intrinsic, and Negative, or PIN. A PIN generates a single electron from each photon received and, therefore, does not provide a significant gain, or increase in signal strength. However, PINs are fairly rugged and inexpensive. PINs generally are matched with light-emitting diode (LED) and vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) light sources and multimode (MMF) glass optical fiber (GOF) or plastic optical fiber (POF) in relatively low speed, short haul fiber optic transmission systems (FOTS). See also diode, dopant, FOTS, GOF, laser diode, LED, light detector, MMF, POF, and VCSEL.
pin Usage Examples

Object

  • blame: There is no point in trying to pin the blame on an innocent MLRO who is only trying to do his or her job.

Converse of object

  • lynch: Therefore, it is important that NatWest's online presence acts as a lynch pin for its traditional marketing drives.
  • stick: We can then stick pins in pictures of the latter.

Preposition: into

  • keypad: So now you may be asked to enter your PIN into a special keypad, instead of signing a receipt.

Adjective modifier

  • rolling: Really enjoy beating the biscuits up with a rolling pin.
  • 4-digit: Enter your 4-digit PIN, select the ' PIN Services ' option and follow the on-screen instructions.
  • crank: This process, known as scraping in was repeated until most of the bearing could be seen to be contacting with the crank pin.

Preposition: on

  • noticeboard: This and That 41 Items from the postbag and e-mail inbox that could be pinned on the noticeboard for you to read!

Modifies a noun

  • bowling: There is for example a ten pin bowling team which plays on Thursday night.
  • badge: Has there been any response to the pin badge idea yet?
  • connector: All Firewire connectors carry serial data which in total require four lines, giving a four pin connector.
  • plug: UK 3 pin type plugs are often used in hotels.
  • pad: Contact suppliers of chip readers and PIN pads - these can be combined in a single unit or two separate appliances.

Noun used with modifier

  • lapel: Pins vary in size depending on shape of logo but all are standard size of lapel pins.
  • gudgeon: January 31 2004 © Colin Henderson With the inside right con rod back in position it was time to tighten up the gudgeon pin.
  • kilt: There is often a kilt pin pinned through the front flap for decoration.
  • cotter: In the first incident, a worker was trying to replace a cotter pin on a forklift mast.
  • firing: Among several advantages of the 1903 Springfield action was the readily demountable firing pin.
  • activation: It can take up to seven days to get your Activation PIN.
pin Quotes

A woman loses a charm with every pin she takes out.

—Joyce,James Augustine Aloysius

There was a faith-healer of Deal Who said,'Although pain isn't real, If I sit on a pin 22 And it punctures my skin, I dislike what I fancy I feel.'

—Anonymous

You must take off your clothes for the doctor And stand as straight as a pin, His hand of stone on your white breastbone Where the bullets all go in.

—Causley, Charles

But had I wist, before I kiss'd, That love had been sae ill to win. I'd lock'd my heart in a case o'gowd, And pinn'd it wi'a siller pin.

—Ballads

Browse dictionary entries near pin

  1. ‹ pimply
  2. ‹ pimple
  3. ‹ pimping
  4. ‹ pimpernel
  5. ‹ pimp
  6. ‹ pimiento
  7. ‹ pimento cheese
  8. ‹ pimento
  9. ‹ Piman
  10. ‹ Pima cotton
  1. pin boy ›
  2. pin curl ›
  3. pin money ›
  4. pin oak ›
  5. pinaceous ›
  6. pinafore ›
  7. Pinar del Río ›
  8. pinaster ›
  9. pinball machine ›
  10. pince-nez ›