coin

plural coins

1. countableuncountablebusinessA piece of currency, usually metallic and in the shape of a disc, but sometimes polygonal, or with a hole in the middle.

   ...the coins were of all countries and sizes - doubloons, and louis d'ors, and guineas, and pieces of eight...

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC

   Synonyms: shilling

2. countableuncountableA token used in a special establishment like a casino.

   Synonyms: chip

3. countablefigurativelyuncountableThat which serves for payment or recompense.

   The loss of every present advantage to flesh and blood is repaid in a nobler coin.

   1654, H[enry] Hammond, Of Fundamentals in a Notion Referring to Practise, London: […] J[ames] Flesher for Richard Royston, […], →OCLC

4. figurativelyuncountableSomething in broad circulation or use.

   Tho’ truths in manhood darkly join, ⁠Deep-seated in our mystic frame, ⁠We yield all blessing to the name Of Him that made them current coin; […]

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 56

   1 more example

   The religious interpretation of socialism and the conception of a new epoch as the fulfilment of the true content of Christianity were, in fact, current coin in the French socialism of the 1830s and 1840s.

   1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume I: The Founders, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: powstanie (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 87

5. UKUSslanguncountableAfrican-American VernacularMoney in general, not limited to coins.

   She spent some serious coin on that car!

   3 more examples

   It was the biggest thing in the town, and everybody I met was full of it. They were going to run an over-sea empire, and make no end of coin by trade.

   1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 199

   Boy toy named Troy, used to live in Detroit, big dope dealer money he was getting some coin.

   2014, Nicki Minaj, “Anaconda”, in The Pinkprint

   Of course, she [Charlie XCX] has a penchant for designer frames that cost upwards of $400. If you want to splurge on one of those exact pairs, go off. If you want to save some coin, I found similar options at more affordable brands and even some Amazon dupes. You’re welcome.

   2024 September 14, Heath Owens, “What to Wear to Charli xcx & Troye Sivan's Tour If You Wanna 'SWEAT'”, in Cosmopolitan

   Synonyms: money, ackers, bees and honey, blunt, bones, brass, bread, bread and honey

6. countableuncountablecard gamesOne of the suits of minor arcana in tarot, or a card of that suit.
7. countableuncountableA corner or external angle.

   Synonyms: wedge, quoin

8. countableuncountableA small circular slice of food.

   Spread out four bread and butter pickle coins on top, and sprinkle with onion.

   2020, Evan Bloom, Rachel Levin, Eat Something, page 76

   1 more example

   For munchies try deep-fried jalapeño coins, jumbo Buffalo wings, and hush puppies with a sweet edge.

   2015, Fodor's The Carolinas & Georgia

9. abbreviationcountableellipsisinformaluncountablebusinessEllipsis of cryptocoin; a cryptocurrency.

   What's the best coin to buy right now?

present singular third person coins · participle present coining · participle past coined · past coined

1. To make of a definite fineness, and convert into coins, as a mass of metal.

   to coin a medal

   2 more examples

   to coin silver dollars

   Many persons believe that the so-called "dollar of the daddies," weighing 412½ grains (nine tenths fine), having a ratio to gold of "16 to 1" in value when first coined, was the original dollar of the Constitution.

   1898 September 28, Alexander E. Outerbridge Jr., “Curiosities of American Coinage”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume 53, D. Appleton & Company, page 601

   Synonyms: mint, manufacture

2. broadlyTo make or fabricate (especially a word or phrase).

   Over the last century the advance in science has led to many new words being coined.

   5 more examples

   Not fearing outward force: So ſhall my Lungs / Coine words till their decay, againſt thoſe Meazels

   c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 15

   Some tale, some new pretense, he daily coined, / To soothe his sister and delude her mind.

   1697, Virgil, “Aeneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 1

   Because in today's 2,000mph technological freefall, he who coins the catchiest buzzword generally wins the debate by default.

   2010 August 30, Charlie Brooker, “Buzzwords for blowhards”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 30 May 2023

   As a result, men turn to the women in their lives to fulfill their emotional needs. Ferrara and her coauthor are not the first to suggest that women bear the burden of mankeeping (although they did coin the term).

   2024 October 23, Kim Elsesser, “Mankeeping: How Shrinking Male Social Networks May Burden Women”, in Forbes, archived from the original on 17 Mar 2025

   According to Collins Dictionary and Wiktionary, the term was coined in 2017 by journalist Anzer Ayoob, the term Chenabi is derived from the Chenab River, with the suffix “-i”, commonly used to denote belonging.

   2025 July 24, Mubasher Sharief Pathan, “Chenab Valley United”, in Precious Kashmir, archived from the original on 29 Aug 2025

   Synonyms: invent, originate, mint

3. To acquire rapidly, as money; to make.

   [...] Tenants cannot coin their Rent juſt at Quarter-day, but muſt gather it up by degrees, and lodge it with them till Pay-day, or borrow it of thoſe who have it lying by them, [...]

   1691, [John Locke], Some Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest, and Raising the Value of Money. […], London: […] Awnsham and John Churchill, […], published 1692, →OCLC, page 36

1. USabbreviationuncountablegovernmentAbbreviation of counterinsurgency.

1. A city in Iowa, United States.
2. An unincorporated community in Kentucky, United States.

plural Coins

1. A surname.
   1. A surname from French.
   2. A surname from Irish.; Alternative form of Coyne.