hairpin

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noun hair·pin \ˈher-ˌpin\

Definition of hairpin

1 : a pin to hold the hair in place; specifically : a long U-shaped pin
2 : something shaped like a hairpin; specifically : a sharp U-shaped turn in a road

See hairpin defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of hairpin from the Web

Finish the look by pinning the top section underneath the bottom section with a hairpin.

— jihan forbes, Allure, "6 Super Easy Summer Updos That Keep Your Hair Off Your Neck," 17 July 2017
Many of the branches in your music are loaded with hairpin turns and complex vocal harmonies.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding has found a new creative home base in Philly," 17 July 2017
Its ends are also linked by structures called terminal hairpins, which are a challenge to recreate.

— kai kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, "How Canadian researchers built a poxvirus for $100,000 using mail-order DNA," 6 July 2017
The fourth- to 12th-graders have uncovered some amazing artifacts — rings, bracelets, earrings and hairpins — among the ancient clay ovens, cooking pots, jars, serving dishes and a table in the medieval fortress’ kitchen.

— Fox News, "900 year-old jewelry found in Crusader castle," 20 June 2017
My tension eased as the hairpin turns gave way to a more sedate course.

— brady macdonald, latimes.com, "You'll get panhandled (by burros) and shot at (by fake bad guys) in Oatman, a Route 66 town that's a triumph of reinvention," 9 June 2017
Passengers will make a slow hairpin curve up there before plunging back toward the station, then back up into the barrel roll.

— dewayne bevil, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Fun Spot takes another dramatic turn with Mine Blower roller coaster," 23 May 2017
Local media had previously reported that, in detention, Park would be denied the hairpins needed to maintain her famous updo, reminiscent of the hairstyle her mother used to wear.

— anna fifield, Washington Post, "South Koreans get a glimpse of their ousted president — in handcuffs," 23 May 2017
A desk with steel frame sells for $650, and a hexagon side table with steel hairpin legs comes in three sizes starting at $98.

— joyce smith, kansascity.com, "Northland couple build furniture and a business," 29 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hairpin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hairpin

1771

hairpin

adjective hair·pin

Definition of hairpin

: having the shape of a hairpin a hairpin turn; also : having hairpin turns a steep hairpin road

First Known Use of hairpin

1887

HAIRPIN Defined for English Language Learners

hairpin

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noun

Definition of hairpin for English Language Learners

: a pin that is worn in your hair; especially : a pin shaped like a U that is worn to hold your hair in place
: an extremely sharp turn in a road that is shaped like a U

HAIRPIN Defined for Kids

hairpin

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noun hair·pin \ˈher-ˌpin\

Definition of hairpin for Students

: a pin in the shape of a U for holding the hair in place

Medical Dictionary

hairpin

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noun hair·pin \ˈha(ə)r-ˌpin, ˈhe(ə)r-\

variants: also

hairpin loop

Medical Definition of hairpin

: a region in single-stranded RNA or DNA that is double-stranded due to pairing between purine and pyrimidine bases in adjacent sequences of the RNA or DNA that are complementary and inverted