Chin Meaning
/ˈt͡ʃɪn/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe bottom of a face, (specifically) the typically jutting jawline below the mouth.
nounTalk.
Sentence Examples
The boxer was hit on the chin and went down for the count.
I landed him a blow on the chin.
John yawned and scratched his chin.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The boxer received a punch to his ____ and stumbled backward.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He rubbed his ____ thoughtfully as he considered the complex problem.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English chyn, from Old English ċinn (“chin”), from Proto-West Germanic *kinnu, from Proto-Germanic *kinnuz (“chin”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵénus (“chin, jaw”). Compare West Frisian/Dutch kin, Low German/German Kinn, Danish kind, Icelandic kinn, Welsh gen, Latin gena, Tocharian A śanweṃ, Ancient Greek γένυς (génus, “jaw”), Armenian ծնոտ (cnot), Persian چانه (čâne), Sanskrit हनु (hánu). Doublet of gena.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In the cleft of the aircraft's chin is a small turret for a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) "eyeball" that will enable MH-47E pilots to see clearly in complete darkness […]"
— 1990, Army, volume 40:
"Lockheed Martin's system is mounted behind a transparent, low-observable window blended into the aircraft's chin."
— 2001, Aviation Week & Space Technology:
"“I reckon you can explain, Mrs. Peabody.” […] “An’ I reckon that newcomer you’ve been chinning with could explain if he had a mind to.”"
— 1912, Jack London, chapter 5, in Smoke Bellew, New York: Grosset & Dunlap, page 141:
"This little chore involved getting up at 3 A.M., working about two hours, then sitting around chinning and drinking coffee with the radio operators until too late to go back to sleep."
— 1944, Ernie Pyle, chapter 1, in Brave Men, New York: Henry Holt, page 3:
"“Been up chinning your sporting editor, Ragsy Hurd. […]”"
— 1911, Henry Sydnor Harrison, chapter 7, in Queed, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, page 85:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The boxer received a punch to his ____ and stumbled backward.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He rubbed his ____ thoughtfully as he considered the complex problem.