chin

[ chin ]
See synonyms for chin on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the lower extremity of the face, below the mouth.

  2. the prominence of the lower jaw.

  1. Informal. chin-up.

verb (used with object),chinned, chin·ning.
  1. Gymnastics.

    • to bring one's chin up to (a horizontal bar, from which one is hanging by the hands), by bending the elbows.

    • to raise (oneself) to this position.

  2. to raise or hold to the chin, as a violin.

  1. Archaic. to talk to; chatter with.

verb (used without object),chinned, chin·ning.
  1. Gymnastics. to chin oneself.

  2. Slang. to talk; chatter: We sat up all night chinning about our college days.

Idioms about chin

  1. keep one's chin up, to maintain a cheerful disposition in spite of difficulties, disappointments, etc.: Also chin up.

  2. take it on the chin, Informal.

    • to suffer defeat; fail completely.

    • to endure suffering or punishment.

Origin of chin

1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English cin(n); cognate with Dutch kin,German Kinn chin, Old Norse kinn,Gothic kinnus cheek, Latin gena,Greek génus chin, gnáthos jaw (see genial2, -gnathous), Sanskrit hanus jaw

Other words from chin

  • chinless, adjective
  • un·der·chin, noun

Other definitions for ch'in (2 of 5)

ch'in
[ chin; Chinese cheen ]

noun
  1. a Chinese zither consisting of an oblong, slightly curved wooden box over which are stretched strings that are stopped with one hand and plucked with the other.

Origin of ch'in

2
From Chinese (Wade-Giles) ch'in2, (Pinyin) qín

Other definitions for Chin (3 of 5)

Chin
[ jin ]

noun
  1. Also Tsin [jin] /dʒɪn/ . any of three dynasties that ruled in China, a.d. 265–316 (the Western Chin), a.d. 317–420 (the Eastern Chin), and a.d. 936–46 (the Later Chin).

  2. a dynasty that ruled in China 1115–1234.

  • Also (Pinyin) Jin .

Other definitions for Ch'in (4 of 5)

Ch'in
[ chin; Chinese cheen ]

noun
  1. a dynasty in ancient China, 221–206 b.c., marked by the emergence of a unified empire and the construction of much of the Great Wall of China.

  • Also (Pinyin) Qin [chin] /tʃɪn/ .

Other definitions for Chin. (5 of 5)

Chin.

abbreviation
  1. China.

  2. Chinese.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use chin in a sentence

  • Only in the carnage of the head, the tilt of the chin, was the insolence expressed that had made her many enemies.

    Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
  • Then he clapped his fiddle under his chin and without more ado struck up "Bobbing Joan."

  • And, old ink pot, tuck a horse blanket under my chin, and rub me down with brickbats while I feed!

  • He stepped to the girl, and roughly raised her chin with his hand so that she was forced to look him in the face.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
  • Ze under lip rather retires, and this adds to the receding effect of the chin, you see.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

British Dictionary definitions for chin (1 of 2)

chin

/ (tʃɪn) /


noun
  1. the protruding part of the lower jaw

  2. the front part of the face below the lips: Related adjective: genial

  1. keep one's chin up to keep cheerful under difficult circumstances: Sometimes shortened to: chin up!

  2. take it on the chin informal to face squarely up to a defeat, adversity, etc

verbchins, chinning or chinned
  1. gymnastics to raise one's chin to (a horizontal bar, etc) when hanging by the arms

  2. (tr) informal to punch or hit (someone) on the chin

Origin of chin

1
Old English cinn; related to Old Norse kinn, Old High German kinni, Latin gena cheek, Old Irish gin mouth, Sanskrit hanu

British Dictionary definitions for Chin. (2 of 2)

Chin.

abbreviation for
  1. China

  2. Chinese

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with chin

chin

see keep one's chin up; lead with one's chin; take it on the chin.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.