pin
♦ pin /p'ɪn/ (pins pinning pinned)
1 [N-COUNT]
Pins are very small thin pointed pieces of metal. They are used in sewing to fasten pieces of material together until they have been sewn.
...needles and pins...
2 [VERB] V n prep, V n with adv
If you pin something on or to something, you attach it with a pin, a drawing pin, or a safety pin.
They pinned a notice to the door...
He had pinned up a map of Finland.
3 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V n
If someone pins you to something, they press you against a surface so that you cannot move.
I pinned him against the wall...
She fought at the bulk that pinned her.
4 [N-COUNT]
A pin is any long narrow piece of metal or wood that is not sharp, especially one that is used to fasten two things together.
...the 18-inch steel pin holding his left leg together.
5 [VERB] V n on n
If someone tries to pin something on you or to pin the blame on you, they say, often unfairly, that you were responsible for something bad or illegal.
The trade unions are pinning the blame for the violence on the government.
6 [VERB] V n on n
If you pin your hopes on something or pin your faith on something, you hope very much that it will produce the result you want.
The Democrats are pinning their hopes on the next election.
7 [VERB] V n with adv, V n prep
If someone pins their hair up or pins their hair back, they arrange their hair away from their face using hair pins.
Cleanse your face thoroughly and pin back your hair...
In an effort to look older she has pinned her fair hair into a French pleat.
8 [N-COUNT]
A pin is something worn on your clothing, for example as jewellery, which is fastened with a pointed piece of metal. (AM)
...necklaces, bracelets, and pins.
9
see also pins and needles, drawing pin, safety pin, safety pinbob|by pin (bobby pins)
[N-COUNT]
A bobby pin is a small piece of metal or plastic bent back on itself, which someone uses to hold their hair in position. (AM; in BRIT, use hairgrip)draw|ing pin (drawing pins)
also drawing-pin
[N-COUNT]
A drawing pin is a short pin with a broad, flat top which is used for fastening papers or pictures to a board, wall, or other surface. (BRIT; in AM, use thumbtack)pin down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P to n, V P wh, also V n P
If you try to pin something down, you try to discover exactly what, where, or when it is.
It has taken until now to pin down its exact location...
I can only pin it down to between 1936 and 1942...
If we cannot pin down exactly what we are supposed to be managing, how can we manage it?
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P to/on n, V n P
If you pin someone down, you force them to make a decision or to tell you what their decision is, when they have been trying to avoid doing this.
She couldn't pin him down to a date...
If you pin people down, they will tell you some puzzling things about stress.pin mon|ey
[N-UNCOUNT]
Pin money is small amounts of extra money that someone earns or gets in order to buy things that they want but that they do not really need. (INFORMAL)
She'd do anything for a bit of pin money.roll|ing pin (rolling pins)
[N-COUNT]
A rolling pin is a cylinder that you roll backwards and forwards over uncooked pastry in order to make the pastry flat.safe|ty pin (safety pins)
[N-COUNT]
A safety pin is a bent metal pin used for fastening things together. The point of the pin has a cover so that when the pin is closed it cannot hurt anyone.
...trousers which were held together with safety pins.
1 [N-COUNT]
Pins are very small thin pointed pieces of metal. They are used in sewing to fasten pieces of material together until they have been sewn.
...needles and pins...
2 [VERB] V n prep, V n with adv
If you pin something on or to something, you attach it with a pin, a drawing pin, or a safety pin.
They pinned a notice to the door...
He had pinned up a map of Finland.
3 [VERB] V n adv/prep, V n
If someone pins you to something, they press you against a surface so that you cannot move.
I pinned him against the wall...
She fought at the bulk that pinned her.
4 [N-COUNT]
A pin is any long narrow piece of metal or wood that is not sharp, especially one that is used to fasten two things together.
...the 18-inch steel pin holding his left leg together.
5 [VERB] V n on n
If someone tries to pin something on you or to pin the blame on you, they say, often unfairly, that you were responsible for something bad or illegal.
The trade unions are pinning the blame for the violence on the government.
6 [VERB] V n on n
If you pin your hopes on something or pin your faith on something, you hope very much that it will produce the result you want.
The Democrats are pinning their hopes on the next election.
7 [VERB] V n with adv, V n prep
If someone pins their hair up or pins their hair back, they arrange their hair away from their face using hair pins.
Cleanse your face thoroughly and pin back your hair...
In an effort to look older she has pinned her fair hair into a French pleat.
8 [N-COUNT]
A pin is something worn on your clothing, for example as jewellery, which is fastened with a pointed piece of metal. (AM)
...necklaces, bracelets, and pins.
9
see also pins and needles, drawing pin, safety pin, safety pinbob|by pin (bobby pins)
[N-COUNT]
A bobby pin is a small piece of metal or plastic bent back on itself, which someone uses to hold their hair in position. (AM; in BRIT, use hairgrip)draw|ing pin (drawing pins)
also drawing-pin
[N-COUNT]
A drawing pin is a short pin with a broad, flat top which is used for fastening papers or pictures to a board, wall, or other surface. (BRIT; in AM, use thumbtack)pin down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P to n, V P wh, also V n P
If you try to pin something down, you try to discover exactly what, where, or when it is.
It has taken until now to pin down its exact location...
I can only pin it down to between 1936 and 1942...
If we cannot pin down exactly what we are supposed to be managing, how can we manage it?
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P to/on n, V n P
If you pin someone down, you force them to make a decision or to tell you what their decision is, when they have been trying to avoid doing this.
She couldn't pin him down to a date...
If you pin people down, they will tell you some puzzling things about stress.pin mon|ey
[N-UNCOUNT]
Pin money is small amounts of extra money that someone earns or gets in order to buy things that they want but that they do not really need. (INFORMAL)
She'd do anything for a bit of pin money.roll|ing pin (rolling pins)
[N-COUNT]
A rolling pin is a cylinder that you roll backwards and forwards over uncooked pastry in order to make the pastry flat.safe|ty pin (safety pins)
[N-COUNT]
A safety pin is a bent metal pin used for fastening things together. The point of the pin has a cover so that when the pin is closed it cannot hurt anyone.
...trousers which were held together with safety pins.