personal identification number

(pɪn)

n., v. pinned, pin•ning. n. 1. a small, slender, often pointed piece of metal, wood, etc., used as a fastener or support. 2. a short, slender piece of wire with a point at one end and a head at the other, for fastening things together. 3. any of various forms of fasteners, badges, or ornaments consisting essentially or partly of a penetrating wire or shaft (often used in combination): a fraternity pin; a tiepin. 4. a. a short metal rod, as a linchpin, driven through holes in adjacent parts, as a hub and an axle, to keep the parts together. b. a short cylindrical rod or tube, as a wrist pin or crankpin, joining two parts so as to permit them to move in one plane relative to each other. 5. the part of a cylindrical key stem entering a lock. 6. clothespin. 7. hairpin. 8. a peg, nail, or stud marking the center of a target. 9. any one of the rounded wooden clubs set up as the target in tenpins, ninepins, duckpins, etc. 10. Golf. the pole, with flag, which identifies a hole; flagstick. 11. Informal. a human leg. 12. peg (def. 4). 13. Wrestling. a fall. 14. Naut. belaying pin. 15. a very small amount; a trifle. 16. a pin-shaped connection, as the terminals on the base of an electron tube or the connections on an integrated circuit. v.t. 17. to fasten or attach with or as with a pin or pins. 18. to hold fast in a spot or position (sometimes fol. by down). 19. to give one's fraternity pin to (a young woman) as a pledge of one's attachment. 20. Wrestling. to secure a fall over one's opponent. 21. pin down, to force (someone) to deal with a situation or to come to a decision. Idioms: pin something on someone, Informal. to ascribe the blame or guilt for something to a person. [before 1100; Middle English pinne, Old English pinn peg; c. Dutch pin, German Pinne, Old Norse pinni; perhaps < Latin pinna feather, quill]

(pɪn)

n. an identification number assigned to an individual to gain access to a computer system via an automated-teller machine, a point-of-sale terminal, or other device. [1980–85; p(ersonal)i(dentification)n(umber)]

Thesaurus

Noun

personal identification number - a number you choose and use to gain access to various accountsPIN number, PINidentification number, number - a numeral or string of numerals that is used for identification; "she refused to give them her Social Security number"

Translations

Personal identification number

Personal Identification Number

Commonly called a PIN. A password that a person uses to access an ATM with one's debit card, though they are increasingly being used for all debit card transactions. A PIN protects the person who owns the card from identity theft as well as the risk that a thief can steal the card and then use it without limit. Assuming the PIN is randomly generated when the card is issued and the potential thief has no other information, the thief has approximately a 0.06% chance of guessing the PIN when using the card. It was invented by James Goodfellow, who was also instrumental in developing the ATM itself.

Personal identification number (PIN).

A personal identification number is a combination of numbers, letters, or both that you use to access your checking and savings accounts, credit card accounts, or investment accounts electronically.

You also need a PIN to authorize certain debit card purchases as well as for identification in other situations, such as accessing cell phone messages.

A PIN is one way to help protect your accounts against unauthorized use since presumably no other person would know the four- to six-letter code you have chosen. PINs are not foolproof, however, if you don't take steps to ensure that your code remains private.

personal identification number

pin

PIN

Personal Identification Number

Personal Identification Number

Personal identification number

Personal Identification Number

Personal identification number (PIN).

personal identification number

Synonyms for personal identification number

noun a number you choose and use to gain access to various accounts

Synonyms

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