pin

The word “pin” means a short, thin, pointed piece of metal used to fasten things together, such as fabric. In plain terms, a small pointed fastener, a decorative badge, or (as a verb) to fasten, hold down, or keep something visible.

“Pin” is pronounced PIHN (/ˈpɪn/ in IPA).

Here is “pin” used in a sentence: “She used a pin to hold the hem in place before sewing it.”

Words with a similar meaning to “pin” include skittle.

Depending on how it is used, “pin” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “pin” comes from Latin. From Old English pinn, "peg" or "bolt," from a Proto-Germanic root meaning a protruding point — related to "pintle" and unrelated to the Latin word for a wing or feather.

“Pin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Pin” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, thin, pointed piece of metal used to fasten things together, such as fabric.

A pin is a short, thin, pointed piece of metal used to fasten things such as fabric together, and it has a solid head at one end. A needle is used for sewing and has an eye, a small hole at one end, to hold thread.

In the sense of a decorative badge, a pin is a small ornament attached to clothing with a fastener. A brooch is generally larger and more ornamental, while a decorative pin tends to be smaller and simpler.

A plain pin is a straight length of pointed metal with an exposed point, used to hold fabric temporarily. A safety pin bends back on itself and has a guard that covers the point, making it safer to wear and less likely to prick the skin.