canvas. | In the accident she was pinned under the car. **3** Pin **your ears back!** *infml*, especially *BrE* Listen carefully!
**pin sbdy./sthg.** <-> **down** *phr v* [T(to)] **1** to force to give clear details, make a firm decision etc; NAIL down: *I won't pin you down to a particular day; just come whenever you're free.* **2** to know or understand clearly (who or what something is); IDENTIFY: *We know there is corruption in the organization but it is difficult to pin it down.*
**pin sthg. on sbdy.** *phr v* [T] **1** to fix (guilt, blame etc) on: *Don't try and pin the blame on me; I didn't do it!* **2 pin one's hopes on someone** to depend on someone or something for success, help, a favour etc
**PIN** /pın/ also **PIN number** *n* Personal Identification Number; a special secret number which you use with a plastic bank card to get money from a CASH MACHINE
**pi·ña co·la·da** /ˌpiːnjə kəˈlɑdə, ˌpinə-/ *n* [C;U] Sp (a glass of) an alcoholic drink made from COCONUT juice, PINEAPPLE juice, and RUM
**pin-a-fore** /'pınəfɔːr/ *n* *BrE* **1** also **pinny** *infml* — a loose garment that does not cover the arms or usually the back, worn over a dress to keep it clean **2** also **pinafore'dress** *BrE* || **jumper** *AmE* — a dress that does not cover the arms, and under which a BLOUSE or other garment is worn
**pin-ball** /'pınbɔːl/ *n* [U] a game played on a machine with a sloping board down which a rolling ball is guided by various means: *a pinball machine*
**pince-nez** /pæns 'neı, ˌpıns-/ *n* pl. **pince-nez** /-'neız/ [C+sing./pl. v] glasses, used especially in former times, that are held in position on the nose by a spring, instead of by pieces fitting round the ears -> see PAIR (USAGE)
**pin-cer** /'pınsər/ *n* [usually pl.] either of the pair of footlike parts, made up of two pieces of pointed shell-like material, at the end of the legs of a CRAB, LOBSTER etc, used for taking hold of food -> see also PINCERS and see picture at LOBSTER -like *adj*
**'pincer movement** *n* an attack by two groups of soldiers advancing from opposite directions to trap the enemy between them
**pin-cers** /'pınsəz||-ərəz/ *n* [P] a tool made of two crossed pieces of metal with curved parts at one end, used for holding tightly and pulling small things, such as a nail from wood -> compare PLIERS; see PAIR (USAGE) and see picture at TOOL
**pinch¹** /pınʧ/ *v* **1** [i;T] to press (especially a person's flesh) tightly and usually painfully between two hard surfaces or between the thumb and a finger: *He pinched his fingers in the car door.* | *She pinched me on the arm.* | *I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.* | *Stop pinching (me)!* **2** [i] to give pain by being too tight: *Don't buy the shoes if they pinch.* **3** [T] *infml* to take without permission; steal: *My car's been pinched!* **4** [T(with) usually pass.] **a)** to cause pain to: *They came in pinched with cold and hunger.* **b)** to make (the face) thin or tired-looking: *Her face was pinched and drawn with anxiety.* **5** [T(for) often pass.] *infml* for ARREST: *She got pinched for speeding.* **6 pinch and scrape** to spend only what is necessary (or even less) -> see also PENNY PINCHER
**pinch²** *n* **1** [C] an act of pinching someone: *She gave him a pinch to wake him up.* | *a playful/spiteful pinch* **2** [C(of)] an amount that can be picked up between the thumb and a finger: *a pinch of salt/snuff* **3** [the S] suffering caused by lack of necessary things, especially money: *It's six months since he lost his job, so he's beginning to feel the pinch.* **4 at a pinch** *BrE* || **in a pinch** *AmE* — if necessary: *It's more than I really want to spend, but at a pinch I suppose I could manage £60.* -> see also **take something with a pinch of salt** (SALT)
**pinched** /pınʧt/ *adj* [F (for)] without enough (money); SHORT: *We're rather pinched (for money) these days.* -> see also PINCH
**'pinch-hit** *v* [i +for] *AmE* **1** to do something for someone else because they are unexpectedly not able to do it **2** to HIT for someone else in BASEBALL —**pinch-hitter** *n* [C] *Mark is sick - we're sending Jim as a pinch-hitter.*
**pin-cush-ion** /'pınˌkʊʃən/ *n* a filled bag like a small CUSHION into which PINS are stuck until they are needed, used especially by dressmakers
**pin-down** /'pıdaun/ *n* [U] (in Britain) a method of dealing with difficult children in special homes for them which was judged to be against the law. It involved separating the children from others, allowing them to wear few clothes, and giving them little food.
**pine¹** /paın/ *n* **1** [C] also '**pinetree** — a tall tree with thin sharp leaves (**pine needles**) that do not drop off in winter and woody fruits (**pinecones**), that grows especially in colder parts of the world: *a pine forest* | *pine-fresh disinfectant* (=smelling of pine) **2** [U] the white or yellowish soft wood of this tree: *a pine table*
**pine²** *v* [i] **1** [[AWAY]] to become thin, less active, and lose strength and health slowly, through disease or especially grief: *He pined away after his wife died.* **2** [(for)] to desire very strongly over a long period of time, and to grieve for: *The dog was pining for its dead master.* | *She pined for her lost love until he finally returned.* **3** [(for)] to have a strong desire, especially that is impossible to fulfil: *They were pining for their homeland back in Europe.*
**Pine, Courtney** /'kɔːtnl'l'kɔr-/ (1964-) a British JAZZ musician and COMPOSER who plays the SAXOPHONE. His records include *Underground* (1997) and *Back in the Day* (2000).
**pin·eal gland** /'pınıəl glænd\'paın-/ *n* a small growth in the brain, the exact purpose of which is not known, but which may be sensitive to light in some way
**pine·ap·ple** /ˈpaınæpəl/ *n* [C;U] (the sweet juicy yellow flesh of) a large dark yellow tropical fruit with a mass of thin stiff leaves on top; pineapples are sold fresh or in tins: *pineapple rings/chunks* | *pineapple juice* -> see picture at FRUIT
**'pine marten** *n* a small European animal that lives in forests
**'pine needles** *n* the leaves of the pine tree, which are like needles (long, thin, and sharp)
**Pine-sol** /ˈpaınsɔːl/ trademark a type of liquid HOUSEHOLD CLEANER (=chemical mixture used for cleaning the kitchen, bathroom etc) sold in the US, which has a PINE smell
**'pine straw** *n* *AmE infml* dried, brown pine needles which have fallen to the ground. Pine straw becomes very deep in a pine forest.
**pine·tree** /ˈpaıntriː/ *n* a PINE
**pine·wood** /ˈpaınwʊd/ *n* **1** [C] also **pinewoods** *pl.* — a pine forest **2** [U] the wood of the pine tree
**Pinewood** also **Pinewood Studios** a large film STUDIO (=place where films are made), to the west of London, near SLOUGH
**pin-ey** /ˈpaını/ *adj* PINY
**ping¹** /pıŋ/ *n* [S] *infml* a short sharp ringing sound, such as the sound made by hitting a glass with something hard
**ping²** *v* [i] .1 *infml* to make a ping: *a pinging sound* **2** *AmE* for **PINK³**
**'ping-pong** *n* [U] *infml* for TABLE TENNIS
**pin-head** /ˈpınhed/ *n* **1** the head of a pin **2** *infml derog* a rather stupid person
**pin·ion¹** /ˈpınjən/ *v* [T] *fml* **1** to hold or tie up (the arms or legs) in order to prevent movement **2** [(to)] to prevent the movement of (a person or animal) by holding or tying up the arms or legs: *The wrestler pinioned his opponent to the floor.*
**pinion²** *n* a small wheel, with teeth on its outer edge, that fits into a larger wheel and turns it or is turned by it -> compare COGWHEEL, RACK
**pinion³** *n* **1** *poet* a bird's wing **2** *tech* the joint or part of a bird's wing furthest away from the body
**pink¹** /pıŋk/ *adj* **1** pale red: *salmon pink* | *a pink carnation/rose* -> see feature on page A7 **2** *often derog* giving some slight support to SOCIALIST political parties and ideas -> compare RED; see also PINKO, tickled pink (TICKLE) **3** [only before n] a word used to talk about HOMOSEXUAL people: *a campaign aimed at the pink consumer*
**pink²** *n* **1** [C;U] a pale red colour **2** [C] a garden plant with sweet-smelling pink, white, or red flowers **3 in the pink** *usually humor* in perfect health; very well
**pink³** *BrE* || **ping** *AmE* — *v* [i] (of a car engine) to make knocking sounds as a result of not working properly
**Pink** (1979-) a US POP and HIP-HOP singer. . Her songs include *Save My Life*, *Get the Party Started*, and *Lady Marmalade*. She has won several Grammy Awards. She often DYES her hair pink.