# chin

Pronunciation: say "CHIN" /t͡ʃɪn/

## Noun

1. The lower part of the face below the mouth, formed by the front of the jaw.
   - Simple: The part of your face below your mouth, where your jaw sticks out.
   - _A drop of soup clung to his chin._
   - _She tilted her chin upward in defiance._
4. The capacity to absorb a punch to the chin without being knocked out.
   - Simple: The ability to take a punch to the jaw without falling down.
   - _Even tired, he showed a remarkable chin in the final round._
   - _Her chin had never failed her in fifteen professional bouts._
5. The strip of a phone's body below the screen, along the bottom edge.
   - Simple: The strip at the bottom of a phone, below the screen.
   - _The new flagship trims the chin to almost nothing._
   - _A wider chin makes the front camera easier to hide._
6. The lower part of an aircraft's front section, below the nose.
   - Simple: The lower front part of a plane, below the nose.
   - _A sensor turret was fitted into the chin of the gunship._
   - _The chin of the airliner took most of the bird strike._
10. A lie or deliberate falsehood. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: A lie, or something that is not true.
   - _The whole excuse was an obvious chin._
   - _She spotted the chin the moment he opened his mouth._
11. Talk or chatter; idle conversation. *(slang, US)*
   - Simple: Friendly talk or chatter between people.
   - _The neighbors stopped for a quick chin at the gate._
   - _There was plenty of chin and very little gossip._
15. A chinchilla, a small soft-furred rodent often kept as a pet. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A short, informal name for a chinchilla, a small soft-furred rodent.
   - _The breeder showed off her prize-winning chins._
   - _He named his new chin after a cartoon character._
16. A member of the upper class. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: A rich person from the upper class.
   - _A few chins drifted in from their estates for the season._
   - _She married a chin and moved into his family's manor._

## Verb

2. To lift one's own body weight while hanging from a bar, raising the chin above it.
   - Simple: To pull yourself up while hanging from a bar until your chin is above it.
   - _Few recruits can chin more than a dozen times._
   - _He chins steadily until his arms give out._
3. To punch or strike someone, especially on the chin. *(UK)*
   - Simple: To hit someone hard, especially on the chin.
   - _He chinned the other guy outside the pub._
   - _She warned that she would chin anyone who touched her bike._
7. To gesture toward someone or something with a movement of the chin.
   - Simple: To point at someone or something using your chin.
   - _She chinned the parked van to warn him quietly._
   - _He would chin the exit whenever he wanted to leave a party._
8. To raise and hold a musical instrument against one's chin.
   - Simple: To hold a musical instrument up against your chin.
   - _The soloist chinned her viola and waited for the cue._
   - _Beginners learn to chin the instrument before drawing the bow._
9. To place or rest one's chin on something.
   - Simple: To rest your chin on top of something.
   - _The dog chinned my knee and begged for scraps._
   - _Tired children often chin the table during long meals._
14. To operate a device, or choose a setting, using one's chin.
   - Simple: To turn on or control a device by pressing it with your chin.
   - _He chinned the call button to summon a nurse._
   - _She learned to chin the joystick that steers her chair._

## Verb

12. To talk or chatter idly. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To talk or chat with other people.
   - _The regulars would chin late into the evening._
   - _They chinned happily while the kettle boiled._
13. To talk to or with a particular person. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To talk to or have a chat with someone.
   - _She chinned her neighbor over the fence every morning._
   - _Come and chin me once you've settled in._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–14, 16** — From Middle English chyn and Old English ċinn ("chin"), going back through Proto-Germanic *kinnuz to the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵénus ("chin, jaw"). It is related to German Kinn, Latin gena, and Ancient Greek génus ("jaw").
**Meaning 15** — A shortening of chinchilla.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/chin (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).