chin
1 Americannoun
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the lower extremity of the face, below the mouth.
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the prominence of the lower jaw.
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Informal. chin-up.
verb (used with object)
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Gymnastics.
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to bring one's chin up to (a horizontal bar, from which one is hanging by the hands), by bending the elbows.
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to raise (oneself ) to this position.
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to raise or hold to the chin, as a violin.
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Archaic. to talk to; chatter with.
verb (used without object)
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Gymnastics. to chin oneself.
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Slang. to talk; chatter.
We sat up all night chinning about our college days.
idioms
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keep one's chin up, to maintain a cheerful disposition in spite of difficulties, disappointments, etc. Also chin up.
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take it on the chin,
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to suffer defeat; fail completely.
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to endure suffering or punishment.
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noun
noun
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Also Tsin 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).
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a dynasty that ruled in China 1115–1234.
noun
abbreviation
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China.
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Chinese.
noun
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the protruding part of the lower jaw
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the front part of the face below the lips
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Sometimes shortened to: chin up!. to keep cheerful under difficult circumstances
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informal to face squarely up to a defeat, adversity, etc
verb
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gymnastics to raise one's chin to (a horizontal bar, etc) when hanging by the arms
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informal (tr) to punch or hit (someone) on the chin
abbreviation
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China
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Chinese
Other Word Forms
- chinless adjective
- underchin noun
Etymology
Origin of chin1
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 ( genial 2, -gnathous ), Sanskrit hanus jaw
Origin of ch'in2
From Chinese (Wade-Giles) ch'in2, (Pinyin) qín
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Any question, any criticism, any opinion, you have to take it on the chin today,” Arteta said after the game.
Some type of gauzy fabric wound beneath the chin; but Charles could not make out a face.
From Literature
Back straight, chest out, chin at a ninety-degree angle, he marches with stiff legs, advancing for hours on end.
From Literature
Sticking out his chin, Grandpa said, “Well, I’m no expert monkey catcher either, but we’re going to catch them just the same. There’s a big reward being offered for those monkeys.”
From Literature
When the gold reached my mother’s chin, she looked panicked, like she was submerged in water and didn’t know how to swim.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
