noun

hairpin

HEH-uh-pihn

Hairpin (noun) means a thin U-shaped pin used to hold hair in place. Example: “She secured her bun with two hairpins.”

noun

A thin U-shaped pin used to hold hair in place.

"She secured her bun with two hairpins."

A very sharp bend in a road, shaped like a hairpin.

"The mountain road was full of tight hairpins."

How to use hairpin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA U-shaped hair fastener, or a sharp U-shaped bend in a road.

Common pairings

a hairpin bend a hairpin turn a hairpin curve

Word forms

hairpins plural

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Fill the gap

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She secured her bun with two _____.

Etymology

From "hair" and "pin," describing a pin used to hold hair, first recorded in the late 1700s; the road sense followed in the early 1900s from the similar U-shape.

· First attested 1700

Class of 1700 hairpin joined the language around 1700.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “hairpin” mean?

The word “hairpin” means a thin U-shaped pin used to hold hair in place. In plain terms, a U-shaped hair fastener, or a sharp U-shaped bend in a road.

How do you pronounce “hairpin”?

“Hairpin” is pronounced HEH-uh-pihn (/ˈhɛɚ.pɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “hairpin” in a sentence?

Here is “hairpin” used in a sentence: “She secured her bun with two hairpins.”

What part of speech is “hairpin”?

“Hairpin” is a noun.

Where does the word “hairpin” come from?

The word “hairpin” dates back to around 1700. From "hair" and "pin," describing a pin used to hold hair, first recorded in the late 1700s; the road sense followed in the early 1900s from the similar U-shape.

How many meanings does “hairpin” have?

“Hairpin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin U-shaped pin used to hold hair in place.