pin

The definition of a pin is something small used for holding things together or for support.

(noun)

  1. An example of a pin is what women use to hold their hair in up-do hairstyles.
  2. An example of a pin is what you would use to attach a piece of paper to a corkboard.

Pin is defined as to fasten or attach two of more things together.

(verb)

An example of to pin is a seamstress attaching two pieces of fabric together before sewing them.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See pin in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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 ()

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

transitive verb pinned, pinning

  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

noun

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

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

See pin in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A short, straight, stiff piece of wire with a blunt head and a sharp point, used especially for fastening.
    b. Something, such as a safety pin, that resembles such a piece of wire in shape or use.
    c. A whit; a jot: didn't care a pin about the matter.
  2. A slender, usually cylindrical piece of wood or metal for holding or fastening parts together, or serving as a support for suspending one thing from another, as:
    a. A thin rod for securing the ends of fractured bones.
    b. A peg for fixing the crown to the root of a tooth.
    c. A cotter pin.
    d. The part of a key stem entering a lock.
    e. Music One of the pegs securing the strings and regulating their tension on a stringed instrument.
    f. Nautical A belaying pin.
    g. Nautical A thole pin.
  3. An ornament fastened to clothing by means of a clasp.
  4. A rolling pin.
  5. Sports
    a. One of the wooden clubs at which the ball is aimed in bowling.
    b. A flagstick.
    c. See fall.
  6. pins Informal The legs: spry for his age, and steady on his pins.
  7. Electronics A lead on a device that plugs into a socket to connect the device to a system.
  8. Computer Science
    a. Any of the pegs on the platen of a printer, which engage holes at the edges of paper.
    b. Any of the styluses that form a dot matrix on a printer.
    c. Any of the small metal prongs at the end of a connector that fit into the holes in a port.
transitive verb pinned pinned, pin·ning, pins
  1. To fasten or secure with or as if with a pin or pins.
  2. To transfix.
  3. To place in a position of trusting dependence: He pinned his faith on an absurdity.
  4. a. To hold fast; immobilize: The passenger was pinned under the wreckage of the truck.
    b. Sports To win a fall from in wrestling.
  5. To give (a woman) a fraternity pin in token of attachment.
adjective
Having a grain suggestive of the heads of pins. Used of leather.
Phrasal Verbs: pin down To fix or establish clearly: was finally able to pin down the cause of the disease. To force (someone) to give firm opinions or precise information: The reporter pinned the governor down on the issue of capital punishment. pin on To attribute (a crime) to (someone): The murder was pinned on the wrong suspect.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English pinn

Origin: , perhaps from Latin pinna, feather; see pet- in Indo-European roots

.

abbreviation
personal identification number

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