PIN


Meaning of PIN in English

I. ˈpin noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pinn (akin to Old High German pfinn peg), perhaps from Latin pinna quill, feather — more at pen

Date: before 12th century

1.

a. : a piece of solid material (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 (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

2.

a.

(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 pin s

4. : a fall in wrestling

II. transitive verb

( pinned ; pin·ning )

Date: 14th century

1.

a. : 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

2.

a. : 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

3.

a. : 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)

III. adjective

Date: 1523

1. : of or relating to a pin

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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.