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Definition of pin down - 5 dictionary results

pin

  [pin] noun, verb, pinned, pin⋅ning.
Use pin down in a Sentence
–noun
1. a small, slender, often pointed piece of wood, metal, etc., used to fasten, support, or attach things.
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.
4. a badge having a pointed bar or pin attached, by which it is fastened to the clothing: a fraternity pin.
5. Machinery.
a. a short metal rod, as a linchpin, driven through holes in adjacent parts, as a hub and an axle, to keep the parts together.
b. 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.
c. a short axle, as one on which a pulley rotates in a block.
6. the part of a cylindrical key stem entering a lock.
7. a clothespin.
8. a hairpin.
9. rolling pin.
10. a peg, nail, or stud marking the center of a target.
11. Bowling. any one of the rounded wooden clubs set up as the target in tenpins, ninepins, duckpins, etc.
12. Golf. the flag staff which identifies a hole.
13. any of the projecting knobs or rails on a pinball machine that serve as targets for the ball.
14. Informal. a human leg.
15. Music. peg (def. 5).
16. Wrestling. a fall.
17. Nautical.
a. an axle for a sheave of a block.
b. belaying pin.
18. Carpentry. a tenon in a dovetail joint; dovetail.
19. a very small amount; a trifle: Such insincere advice isn't worth a pin.
20. Chess. the immobilization of an enemy piece by attacking with one's queen, rook, or bishop.
21. Electronics. a pin-shaped connection, as the terminals on the base of an electron tube or the connections on an integrated circuit.
–verb (used with object)
22. to fasten or attach with or as with a pin or pins: to pin two pieces of cloth together.
23. to hold fast in a spot or position (sometimes fol. by down): The debris pinned him down.
24. to transfix or mount with a pin or the like: to pin a flower as a botanical specimen.
25. 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.
26. Wrestling. to secure a fall over one's opponent.
—Verb phrases
27. pin down,
a. to bind or hold to a course of action, a promise, etc.
b. 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.
28. pin in, to fill (gaps in a rubble wall, etc.) with spalls.
29. pin up, to make (a piece of masonry) level or plumb with wedges.
—Idioms
30. get pinned,
a. (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.
b. (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.
31. pin something on someone, Informal. to ascribe the blame or guilt for something to a person; show someone to be culpable: They pinned the crime on him.
32. pull the pin, Informal. to end a relationship, project, program, or the like, because of lack of continuing interest, success, funds, etc.
Origin:
bef. 1100; (n.) ME pinne, OE pinn peg; c. D pin, G Pinne, ON pinni; perh. < L pinna feather, quill (see pinna ); (v.) ME pinnen, deriv. of the n.

Synonyms:
1. bolt, peg. 3. brooch.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pin down
pin   (pĭn)   
n.  

    1. A short, straight, stiff piece of wire with a blunt head and a sharp point, used especially for fastening.

    2. Something, such as a safety pin, that resembles such a piece of wire in shape or use.

    3. A whit; a jot: didn't care a pin about the matter.

    4. A thin rod for securing the ends of fractured bones.

    5. A peg for fixing the crown to the root of a tooth.

    6. A cotter pin.

    7. The part of a key stem entering a lock.

    8. Music One of the pegs securing the strings and regulating their tension on a stringed instrument.

    9. Nautical A belaying pin.

    10. Nautical A thole pin.

    11. One of the wooden clubs at which the ball is aimed in bowling.

    12. A flagstick.

    13. See fall.

    14. Any of the pegs on the platen of a printer, which engage holes at the edges of paper.

    15. Any of the styluses that form a dot matrix on a printer.

    16. Any of the small metal prongs at the end of a connector that fit into the holes in a port.

  2. A slender, usually cylindrical piece of wood or metal for holding or fastening parts together, or serving as a support for suspending one thing from another, as:

    1. A thin rod for securing the ends of fractured bones.

    2. A peg for fixing the crown to the root of a tooth.

    3. A cotter pin.

    4. The part of a key stem entering a lock.

    5. Music One of the pegs securing the strings and regulating their tension on a stringed instrument.

    6. Nautical A belaying pin.

    7. Nautical A thole pin.

    8. One of the wooden clubs at which the ball is aimed in bowling.

    9. A flagstick.

    10. See fall.

    11. Any of the pegs on the platen of a printer, which engage holes at the edges of paper.

    12. Any of the styluses that form a dot matrix on a printer.

    13. Any of the small metal prongs at the end of a connector that fit into the holes in a port.

  3. An ornament fastened to clothing by means of a clasp.

  4. A rolling pin.

  5. Sports

    1. One of the wooden clubs at which the ball is aimed in bowling.

    2. A flagstick.

    3. See fall.

    4. Any of the pegs on the platen of a printer, which engage holes at the edges of paper.

    5. Any of the styluses that form a dot matrix on a printer.

    6. Any of the small metal prongs at the end of a connector that fit into the holes in a port.

  6. pins Informal The legs: spry for his age, and steady on his pins.

  7. Electronics A lead on a device that plugs into a socket to connect the device to a system.

  8. Computer Science

    1. Any of the pegs on the platen of a printer, which engage holes at the edges of paper.

    2. Any of the styluses that form a dot matrix on a printer.

    3. Any of the small metal prongs at the end of a connector that fit into the holes in a port.

tr.v.   pinned, pin·ning, pins

  1. To fasten or secure with or as if with a pin or pins.

  2. To transfix.

  3. To place in a position of trusting dependence: He pinned his faith on an absurdity.

    1. To hold fast; immobilize: The passenger was pinned under the wreckage of the truck.

    2. Sports To win a fall from in wrestling.

  5. To give (a woman) a fraternity pin in token of attachment.

adj.  Having a grain suggestive of the heads of pins. Used of leather.
Phrasal Verb(s):
pin down

  1. To fix or establish clearly: was finally able to pin down the cause of the disease.

  2. To force (someone) to give firm opinions or precise information: The reporter pinned the governor down on the issue of capital punishment.

pin onTo attribute (a crime) to (someone): The murder was pinned on the wrong suspect.

[Middle English, from Old English pinn, perhaps from Latin pinna, feather; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: PIN
Function: abbreviation
prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

pin (pĭn)
n.

  1. A thin rod for securing the ends of fractured bones.

  2. A peg for fixing the crown to the root of a tooth.

v. pinned, pin·ning, pins
To fasten or secure with a pin or pins.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

pin down

  1. Fix or establish clearly, as in The firefighters finally were able to pin down the source of the odor. [Mid-1900s]

  2. Force someone to give precise information or opinions, as in The reporter pinned down the governor on the issue of conservation measures. [c. 1700]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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