pin
• noun 1 a thin piece of metal with a sharp point at one end and a round head at the other, used for fastening pieces of cloth, paper, etc. 2 a metal projection from a plug or an integrated circuit. 3 a small brooch or badge. 4 Medicine a steel rod used to join the ends of fractured bones while they heal. 5 Golf a stick with a flag placed in a hole to mark its position. 6 a metal peg in a hand grenade that prevents its explosion. 7 a skittle in bowling. 8 (pins) informal legs. • verb (pinned, pinning) 1 attach or fasten with a pin or pins. 2 hold someone firmly so they are unable to move. 3 (pin down) force (someone) to be specific about their intentions. 4 (pin down) restrict the actions of (an enemy) by firing at them. 5 (pin on) fix (blame or responsibility) on. — PHRASES pin one’s ears back listen carefully. pin one’s hopes (or faith) on rely heavily on. — ORIGIN Latin pinna ‘point, tip, edge’.
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