Word
hairpin
Phoneticshair·pin
UK/hˈeəpɪn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small, curved piece of metal or plastic used to hold your hair in place. It can also mean a very sharp turn in a road or a sudden change in a musical melody.
n. a small, curved fastener used to secure hair; by extension, a sharp bend in a road or a sudden change in musical pitch. Often used in the plural to describe a series of turns.
Examples
“She used a silver hairpin to keep her ponytail in place.”
“The narrow mountain road features a series of hairpins that require careful driving to navigate.”
“The composer's use of a sudden hairpin in the violin section created a dramatic contrast that silenced the entire audience for a moment.”
Examples
simple
“She used a silver hairpin to keep her ponytail in place.”
contextual
“The narrow mountain road features a series of hairpins that require careful driving to navigate.”
complex
“The composer's use of a sudden hairpin in the violin section created a dramatic contrast that silenced the entire audience for a moment.”
Real-World Examples
“It makes 318 turns along 11 miles of countryside, including hairpins, blind cutbacks and a cloverleaf here and there.” Etymology
From hair + pin, 1788 (as hair pin). Adjective sense 1906 in hairpin turn etc.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/hairpin