noun
Uncommon
gin
jihn
Gin (noun) means a clear spirit flavoured mainly with juniper berries, used both on its own and in cocktails. Example: “She ordered a gin and tonic with a slice of lime.”
noun
1
A clear spirit flavoured mainly with juniper berries, used both on its own and in cocktails.
"She ordered a gin and tonic with a slice of lime."
"The recipe uses a splash of gin to sharpen the flavour of the sauce."
"He poured a measure of gin over the ice and added some tonic."
2
A machine that separates cotton fibre from its seeds.
"The cotton gin dramatically sped up the processing of raw cotton in the 1800s."
"The museum has an old gin that once separated cotton from its seeds."
"Before the gin was invented, cleaning cotton by hand took many long hours."
3
A trap or snare, especially one used to catch small game.
"The rabbit had been caught in a gin set along the hedgerow."
"The gamekeeper checked each gin at dawn to see whether anything was caught."
"An old rusty gin was found hidden under the leaves at the edge of the wood."
How to use gin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly the juniper-flavoured spirit; also an old word for a mechanical device (like the cotton gin) or a small animal trap.
Common pairings
gin and tonic
cotton gin
gin rummy
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Word forms
- Plural
- gins
- Third person singular
- gins
- Past tense
- ginned, gan, gun
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She ordered a _____ and tonic with a slice of lime.
Etymology
The drink's name is a shortened form of "geneva", itself from the Dutch word for juniper — nothing to do with the city of Geneva. The machine/trap sense comes from an older word for a clever device or contraption.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “gin” mean?
The word “gin” means a clear spirit flavoured mainly with juniper berries, used both on its own and in cocktails. In plain terms, most commonly the juniper-flavoured spirit; also an old word for a mechanical device (like the cotton gin) or a small animal trap.
How do you pronounce “gin”?
“Gin” is pronounced jihn (/d͡ʒɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “gin” in a sentence?
Here is “gin” used in a sentence: “She ordered a gin and tonic with a slice of lime.”
What part of speech is “gin”?
“Gin” is a noun.
Where does the word “gin” come from?
The word “gin” comes from Dutch. The drink's name is a shortened form of "geneva", itself from the Dutch word for juniper — nothing to do with the city of Geneva. The machine/trap sense comes from an older word for a clever device or contraption.
Is “gin” a common word?
“Gin” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gin” have?
“Gin” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a clear spirit flavoured mainly with juniper berries, used both on its own and in cocktails.
What is the difference between gin and vodka?
Gin is a clear spirit flavoured mainly with juniper berries, giving it a distinctive aromatic taste, while vodka is typically distilled to be as neutral and flavourless as possible. This flavour difference is the main distinction between the two clear spirits.
What is a cotton gin?
A cotton gin is a machine that separates cotton fibre from its seeds, sharing its name with the alcoholic spirit but referring to an entirely different, unrelated meaning of "gin."
What does "gin" mean when it's not the drink?
Besides the juniper-flavoured spirit, "gin" can also refer to a machine that separates cotton fibre from seeds, or to a trap or snare used especially to catch small game.
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