chine

1 of 2

noun

ˈchīn 

1

: backbone, spine

also : a cut of meat including all or part of the backbone

2

: the intersection of the bottom and the sides of a flat or V-bottomed boat

chine

2 of 2

verb

chined; chining

transitive verb

: to cut through the backbone of (as in butchering)

Synonyms

Noun

• spine

Examples of chine in a Sentence

Noun

uncovered the chine of some animal while digging in the backyard

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At low speeds, the wide upper chines deliver stability and good fuel performance. —Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025

There's a sharp nose with a prominent chine blending the wings into the fuselage, which is optimized for stealth. —New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French eschine, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scina shinbone, needle — more at shin

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chine

• blanc de chine
• crepe de chine
• crêpe de chine

Rhymes for chine

• bean
• bein
• bien
• bouin
• clean
• deen
• diene
• gene
• glean
• jean
• keen
• lien

Kids Definition

chine

noun

ˈchīn

: backbone sense 1, spine

also : a cut of meat including the backbone or part of it and the surrounding flesh