PINNING

pinning

(noun) a mutual promise of a couple not to date anyone else; on college campuses it was once signaled by the giving of a fraternity pin

PIN

pin

(verb) (chess) immobilize a piece

trap, pin, immobilize, immobilise

(verb) to hold fast or prevent from moving; “The child was pinned under the fallen tree”

pin

(verb) attach or fasten with pins; “pin the needle to the shirt”

pin

(verb) pierce with a pin; “pin down the butterfly”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Verb

pinning

present participle of pin

Noun

pinning (countable and uncountable, plural pinnings)

The action of the verb pin in any sense.

A ceremony in which a pin badge is given.

(physics) The establishment of the definite quantum state of a particle, or of the occupation number of a system of particles

Source: Wiktionary

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PIN

Pin, v. t. (Metal Working)

Definition: To peen.

Pin, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Pen to confine, or Pinfold.]

Definition: To inclose; to confine; to pen; to pound.

Pin, n. Etym: [OE. pinne, AS. pinn a pin, peg; cf. D. pin, G. pinne, Icel. pinni, W. pin, Gael. & Ir. pinne; all fr. L. pinna a pinnacle, pin, feather, perhaps orig. a different word from pinna feather. Cf. Fin of a fish, Pen a feather.]

1. A piece of wood, metal, etc., generally cylindrical, used for fastening separate articles together, or as a support by which one article may be suspended from another; a peg; a bolt. With pins of adamant And chains they made all fast. Milton.

2. Especially, a small, pointed and headed piece of brass or other wire (commonly tinned), largely used for fastening clothes, attaching papers, etc.

3. Hence, a thing of small value; a trifle. He . . . did not care a pin for her. Spectator.

4. That which resembles a pin in its form or use; as: (a) A peg in musical instruments, for increasing or relaxing the tension of the strings. (b) A linchpin. (c) A rolling-pin. (d) A clothespin. (e) (Mach.) A short shaft, sometimes forming a bolt, a part of which serves as a journal. See Illust. of Knuckle joint, under Knuckle. (f) (Joinery) The tenon of a dovetail joint.

5. One of a row of pegs in the side of an ancient drinking cup to mark how much each man should drink.

6. The bull's eye, or center, of a target; hence, the center. [Obs.] "The very pin of his heart cleft." Shak.

7. Mood; humor. [Obs.] "In merry pin." Cowper.

8. (Med.)

Definition: Caligo. See Caligo. Shak.

9. An ornament, as a brooch or badge, fastened to the clothing by a pin; as, a Masonic pin.

10. The leg; as, to knock one off his pins. [Slang] Banking pin (Horol.), a pin against which a lever strikes, to limit its motion.

– Pin drill (Mech.), a drill with a central pin or projection to enter a hole, for enlarging the hole, or for sinking a recess for the head of a bolt, etc.; a counterbore.

– Pin grass. (Bot.) See Alfilaria.

– Pin hole, a small hole made by a pin; hence, any very small aperture or perforation.

– Pin lock, a lock having a cylindrical bolt; a lock in which pins, arranged by the key, are used instead of tumblers.

– Pin money, an allowance of money, as that made by a husband to his wife, for private and personal expenditure.

– Pin rail (Naut.), a rail, usually within the bulwarks, to hold belaying pins. Sometimes applied to the fife rail. Called also pin rack.

– Pin wheel. (a) A contrate wheel in which the cogs are cylindrical pins. (b) (Fireworks) A small coil which revolves on a common pin and makes a wheel of yellow or colored fire.

Pin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pinning.] Etym: [See Pin, n.]

Definition: To fasten with, or as with, a pin; to join; as, to pin a garment; to pin boards together. "Aa if she would pin her to her heart." Shak. To pin one's faith upon, to depend upon; to trust to.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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