pin

¹ American  

[pin] / pɪn /

noun

1. a small, slender, often pointed piece of wood, metal, etc., used to fasten, support, or attach things.

   Synonyms:

   peg, bolt

2. a short, slender piece of wire with a point at one end and a head at the other, for fastening things together.

3. any of various forms of fasteners or ornaments consisting essentially or partly of a pointed or penetrating wire or shaft (often used in combination).

   a jeweled pin.

   Synonyms:

   brooch

4. a badge having a pointed bar or pin attached, by which it is fastened to the clothing.

   a fraternity pin.

5. Digital Technology. a photo or link that is bookmarked on Pinterest, a website and mobile application.

   She added 5 pins to her recipes board.

6. Machinery.

   1. a short metal rod, as a linchpin, driven through holes in adjacent parts, as a hub and an axle, to keep the parts together.

   2. a short cylindrical rod or tube, as a wrist pin or crankpin, joining two parts so as to permit them to move in one plane relative to each other.

   3. a short axle, as one on which a pulley rotates in a block.

7. the part of a cylindrical key stem entering a lock.

8. a clothespin.

9. a hairpin.

10. rolling pin.

11. a peg, nail, or stud marking the center of a target.

12. Bowling. any one of the rounded wooden clubs set up as the target in tenpins, ninepins, duckpins, etc.

13. Golf. the flag staff which identifies a hole.

14. any of the projecting knobs or rails on a pinball machine that serve as targets for the ball.

15. Informal. a human leg.

16. Music. peg.

17. Wrestling. a fall.

18. Nautical.

    1. an axle for a sheave of a block.

    2. belaying pin.

19. Carpentry. a tenon in a dovetail joint; dovetail.

20. a very small amount; a trifle.

    Such insincere advice isn't worth a pin.

21. Chess. the immobilization of an enemy piece by attacking with one's queen, rook, or bishop.

22. Electronics. a pin-shaped connection, as the terminals on the base of an electron tube or the connections on an integrated circuit.

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verb (used with object)

pinned, pinning

1. to fasten or attach with or as with a pin or pins.

   to pin two pieces of cloth together.

2. to hold fast in a spot or position (sometimes followed bydown ).

   The debris pinned him down.

3. to transfix or mount with a pin or the like.

   to pin a flower as a botanical specimen.

4. Chess. to immobilize (an enemy piece) by placing one's queen, rook, or bishop in a position to check the exposed king or capture a valuable piece if the pinned piece were moved.

5. Wrestling. to secure a fall over one's opponent.

6. Digital Technology.

   1. to bookmark (a photo or link) on Pinterest, a website and mobile application.

      He pinned a jacket from Macy's on his fashion board.

   2. to fix (a social media post) to the top of a feed.

      She pinned a tweet about her forthcoming book to the top of her Twitter feed.

verb (used without object)

pinned, pinning

1. Digital Technology. to bookmark a photo or link on Pinterest.

   I've been pinning a lot lately.

verb phrase

1. pin down

   1. to bind or hold to a course of action, a promise, etc.

   2. to force (someone) to deal with a situation or to come to a decision.

      We tried to pin him down for a definite answer, but he was too evasive for us.

2. pin up to make (a piece of masonry) level or plumb with wedges.

3. pin in to fill (gaps in a rubble wall, etc.) with spalls.

idioms

1. get pinned,

   1. (of a young woman) to receive a male student's fraternity pin as a symbol of his affection and fidelity, usually symbolizing that the couple is going steady or plans to become engaged.

   2. (of a young couple) to become formally pledged to one another, though not yet engaged, by the bestowing of such a pin or the exchange of pins.

2. pin something on someone, to ascribe the blame or guilt for something to a person; show someone to be culpable.

   They pinned the crime on him.

3. pull the pin, to end a relationship, project, program, or the like, because of lack of continuing interest, success, funds, etc.

PIN ² American  

[pin] / pɪn /

noun

Computers.

1. a number assigned to an individual, used to establish identity in order to gain access to a computer system via an automatic teller machine, a point-of-sale terminal, or other device.

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pin ¹ British  

/ pɪn /

noun

1. 1. a short stiff straight piece of wire pointed at one end and either rounded or having a flattened head at the other: used mainly for fastening pieces of cloth, paper, etc, esp temporarily

   2. ( in combination )

      pinhole

2. short for cotter pin hairpin panel pin rolling pin safety pin

3. an ornamental brooch, esp a narrow one

4. a badge worn fastened to the clothing by a pin

5. something of little or no importance (esp in the phrases not care or give a pin ( for ))

6. a peg or dowel

7. anything resembling a pin in shape, function, etc

8. (in various bowling games) a usually club-shaped wooden object set up in groups as a target

9. Also called: cotter pin.   safety pin.  a clip on a hand grenade that prevents its detonation until removed or released

10. nautical

    1. See belaying pin

    2. the axle of a sheave

    3. the sliding closure for a shackle

11. music a metal tuning peg on a piano, the end of which is inserted into a detachable key by means of which it is turned

12. surgery a metal rod, esp of stainless steel, for holding together adjacent ends of fractured bones during healing

13. chess a position in which a piece is pinned against a more valuable piece or the king

14. golf the flagpole marking the hole on a green

15. 1. the cylindrical part of a key that enters a lock

    2. the cylindrical part of a lock where this part of the key fits

16. wrestling a position in which a person is held tight or immobile, esp with both shoulders touching the ground

17. a dovetail tenon used to make a dovetail joint

18. (in Britain) a miniature beer cask containing 4 1/ 2 gallons

19. informal (usually plural) a leg

20. to be forced to make an extreme effort

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verb

1. to attach, hold, or fasten with or as if with a pin or pins

2. to transfix with a pin, spear, etc

3. informal (foll by on) to place (the blame for something)

   he pinned the charge on his accomplice

4. chess to cause (an enemy piece) to be effectively immobilized by attacking it with a queen, rook, or bishop so that moving it would reveal a check or expose a more valuable piece to capture

5. Also: underpin.  to support (masonry), as by driving in wedges over a beam

PIN ² British  

/ pɪn /

acronym

1. personal identification number: a number used by a holder of a cash card or credit card used in EFTPOS

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pin More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing pin

• hear a pin drop
• on pins and needles

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Other Word Forms

• repin verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of pin¹

First recorded before 1100; Middle English noun pinne, Old English pinn “peg”; cognate with Dutch pin, German Pinne, Old Norse pinni; perhaps frrom Latin pinna “feather, quill” ( pinna ); verb from the noun

Origin of PIN²

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

Example Sentences

A leopard-print high heel-shaped chair, feather boa-framed pin boards, and a host of sequined Hannah-approved ensembles can also be found in the room.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The other justices on the left and center are tougher to pin down.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Bergström's colleague Dr Pontus Skoglund is now analysing ancient wolf DNA from across the globe to pin down that historic moment.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

In November 2021, I received a small pin and certificate to prove it.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026

Ignorant of the facts, articles blamed him for being shot down, for “allowing” himself to be captured by not using his poison pin.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• affix
• bind
• clasp
• fasten
• fix