B1noun1K

Pin

UK /["/pɪn/"]/US /["/pɪn/"]/

Definition

a short thin piece of stiff wire with a sharp point at one end and a round head at the other, used especially for fastening together pieces of cloth when sewing

In simple words: A small pointed object used to fasten things together.

Examples

  • She used a pin to attach the notice to the board.
  • He felt a sharp pin prick his finger as he searched through the box.
  • You can use a safety pin to secure the fabric in place.
  • He always keeps a pin in his bag for emergencies.
  • The map was pinned to the wall with a colorful pin.
  • In video games, a pin might be used to mark a location on the map.
  • The secret agent had to pin down the location of the enemy base.
  • With a single pin, you can hold multiple papers together.
  • After losing the pin, she struggled to keep her hairstyle intact.
  • He needed to pin his badge to his shirt before the meeting.

Usage notes

Used to describe both physical pins that hold objects together and metaphorical uses like 'pinning someone down' in a discussion. Avoid in highly formal settings.

Grammar pattern

pin + object

Memory hint

Think of a 'pin' as a tiny 'spin' that holds things in place.

Collocations

  • safety
  • bobby
  • hair
  • drive in
  • insert
  • stick in
  • safety
  • bobby
  • hair
  • drive in
  • insert
  • stick in
  • lapel
  • flag
  • wear
  • lapel
  • flag
  • wear

Synonyms

  • fastener
  • clip
  • tack
  • spike
  • staple

Antonyms

  • unpin
  • detach

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'pen' - don't mix up the two writing tools.
  • Using 'pinned' wrong - ensure it's in the correct context.
  • Mixing up 'pin' and 'pinning' when describing actions.