Definition of PIN

noun

\ ˈpin

Definition of pin

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : a piece of solid material (such as wood or metal) used especially for fastening things together or as a support by which one thing may be suspended from another

b obsolete : the center peg of a target also : the center itself

c : something that resembles a pin especially in slender elongated form an electrical connector pin

d(1) : one of the pieces constituting the target in various games (such as bowling)

(2) : the peg at which a quoit is pitched

(3) : the staff of the flag marking a hole on a golf course

e : a peg for regulating the tension of the strings of a musical instrument

f : the part of a key stem that enters a lock

g : a belaying pin

2a(1) : a very thin small pointed metal pin with a head used especially for fastening cloth

(2) : little, trifle bother them all! I don't care a pin about them— Bram Stoker

b : an ornament or emblem fastened to clothing with a pin

c(1) : bobby pin

(2) : hairpin

(3) : safety pin

3 : leg —usually used in plural wobbly on his pins

4 : a fall in wrestling

verb

pinned; pinning

Definition of pin (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : to fasten, join, or secure with a pin

b : to hold fast or immobile

c : to present (a young woman) with a fraternity pin as a pledge of affection

2a : fasten pinned his hopes on a miracle pin the blame on someone else

b : to assign the blame or responsibility for pin the robbery on a night watchman

c : to define or determine clearly or precisely —usually used with down it is hard to pin down exactly when things changed— Katharine Whittemore

3a : to make (a chess opponent's piece) unable to move without exposing the king to check or a valuable piece to capture

b of a wrestler : to secure a fall over (an opponent)

adjective

Definition of pin (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : of or relating to a pin

2 of leather : having a grain suggesting the heads of pins

abbreviation

\ ˈpin

Definition of PIN (Entry 4 of 4)

personal identification number

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about pin

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Examples of pin in a Sentence

Noun

He handed out pins with the peace sign on them. a cat that was still a little unsteady on its pins after anesthesia

Verb

She pinned a rose to her dress. The general pinned the medal on the soldier. She pinned up her hair. He pinned a sign on the wall. The passengers were pinned under the wreckage. The guards pinned his arms to his sides. She was pinned against the side of the car.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Mickelson poured it on, showing his skills have not deteriorated a bit at age 48, controlling spin beautifully to back pin positions. — Doug Ferguson, The Seattle Times, "Mickelson beats everyone but the dark at Pebble," 11 Feb. 2019 The same man wore lapel pins, including one of the U.S. and Saudi flags intertwined, that other bodyguards accompanying Prince Mohammed wore on the trip. — Suzan Fraser, Fox News, "Man linked to Saudi prince at consulate when writer vanished," 18 Oct. 2018 The rhetoric of the NFFA is just passable enough to seem plausible, chiefly conveyed by actor Patch Darragh as a doughy, duplicitous chief of staff who wears his arrogant privilege like another tacky lapel pin. — Mark Olsen, latimes.com, "Review: 'The First Purge' delivers genre pleasures with a timely message of resilience," 3 July 2018 Over time, his signature look included a Husky baseball cap and at least one American flag lapel pin. — courant.com, "Ernest G. Shaw," 13 May 2018 Except for a white stripe in Viktor's tie and the president's American flag lapel pin, their ensembles are nearly identical. — Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, "Melania Trump's Father Is Clearly Taking Style Cues from President Trump," 2 May 2018 For the men: embroidered slippers and dazzling lapel pins. — Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "See the Exquisite, One-of-a-Kind Jewels from Dolce & Gabbana’s Latest Alta Gioielleria Collection Here," 7 Apr. 2018 Arriving cops found a man in a tie, a gray business suit with a U.S. Marshals lapel pin. — miamiherald, "Cops suspected he shoplifted an iPhone. Then they saw his U.S. Marshals pin and badge. | Miami Herald," 22 Mar. 2018 Tack-nail each part using a pneumatic pin nailer or a hammer in a few brads. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "Three Ways to Build Your Own Shelves," 24 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Perhaps when Congressmen start wearing harnesses or Planned Parenthood pins their outfit choices will similarly be worth reporting on more. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "House Democratic Women Wear Suffragette White to State of the Union," 6 Feb. 2019 The miniature is set on a yellow silk ribbon and worn pinned to the left shoulder of the recipient's dress. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "The First Photos of Kate Middleton Wearing an Special Honor From the Queen Are Breathtaking," 24 Oct. 2018 The bun was low and securely pinned to the nape of her neck, her hair was parted right down the middle, and a few face-framing tendrils were loosely curled and left free to add movement and soften the look. — Andrea Park, Allure, "Meghan Markle Wears A Bun that Looks Just Like Her Wedding Hair," 3 Oct. 2018 Products from the Starbucks x Ban.do holiday collection are sure to please your favorite coffee enthusiast, while every brand under the sun seems to be offering an array of versatile stocking stuffers for the hard-to-pin-down friends. — Tess Garcia, Teen Vogue, "Sephora is Selling Beauty Product Holiday Ornaments," 2 Dec. 2018 Just like dad, viewers will watch as Theo tries to earn his detective shield all while trying to pin down the details of his father’s (gasp!) murder. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "The 'NYPD Blue' Reboot Is Killing Off a Major Character When It Returns," 18 Oct. 2018 Bella tried to pin Morgan before carrying her to her side of the ring to get tagged out by one her teammates. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, "WWE star knocked out during match after flurry of kicks," 25 Sep. 2018 The simple, dark dress seemed to have been chose in part to show off the red poppy of remembrance that was pinned to it. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Meghan Markle Wore an Olive Green Shirtdress to the Invictus Games Closing Ceremony," 27 Oct. 2018 Tacio said rescuers were working Sunday to pull out another victim who was pinned down by rocks and mud. — Fox News, "Dozens feared trapped in Philippines as Typhoon Mangkhut pummels southern China," 16 Sep. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Timex, whose watch output through the 1970s was still mostly pin-lever mechanicals, had become the world’s top watch company in sales through a policy of cut-throat price-cutting that wiped out competitors. — Bloomberg.com, "Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Meets With President Trump," 27 Feb. 2018

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

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Dictionary Entries near pin

Statistics for pin

Last Updated

7 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for pin

The first known use of pin was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for pin

noun

English Language Learners Definition of pin

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a thin, pointed piece of stiff wire with a rounded head at one end that is used especially for fastening pieces of cloth

: a thin, pointed piece of stiff wire with a decoration at one end

: a small usually circular object that has writing and often a picture on it and that has a pin on the back so that it can be fastened to clothing, bags, etc.

verb

English Language Learners Definition of pin (Entry 2 of 2)

: to fasten or attach (something) with a pin

: to prevent or stop (someone or something) from moving by holding or pressing firmly against something

See the full definition for pin in the English Language Learners Dictionary

noun

\ ˈpin

Kids Definition of pin

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a small pointed piece of wire with a rounded head used especially for fastening pieces of cloth

2 : something (as an ornament or badge) fastened to the clothing by a pin

3 : a slender pointed piece (as of wood or metal) usually having the shape of a cylinder used to fasten articles together or in place

4 : one of ten pieces set up as the target in bowling

verb

pinned; pinning

Kids Definition of pin (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to fasten or join with a pin She pinned a sign on the wall.

2 : to prevent or be prevented from moving The guards pinned his arms to his sides.

noun

\ ˈpin

Medical Definition of pin

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a metal rod driven into or through a fractured bone to immobilize it

2 : a metal rod driven into the root of a reconstructed tooth to provide support for a crown or into the jaw to provide support for an artificial tooth