pincushion
English
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
pincushion
- /ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/ UK
- /ˈpɪnˌkʊʃ(ə)n/ US
Where it comes from
The noun is derived from pin + cushion. The verb is derived from the noun.
noun pincushions · pin cushion · pin-cushion
- A device, originally like a small, stuffed cushion, designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it to store them safely; some modern pincushions hold the objects magnetically. Then for womens cloaths, the cabadge of cloath of ſilver, brancht Sattin, and the like, went for pin-cuſhions, pin-pillows, womens purſes; and if black, Church-wardens capes.
- A flowering plant in the genus Leucospermum. [S]ee how the knowledge of the climate tolerances of one South African shrub, the Saldana pincushion (Leucospermum tomentosum) is integrated with projections of a global circulation model applied to the southern tip of South Africa [...].
- A flowering plant in the genus Scabiosa. Scabiosa, often called mourning bride, pincushion flower, and sweet scabious, is an easily grown, old-fashioned, half-hardy annual. It is very attractive and satisfactory both for cutting and for borders and beds.
- A coral bead plant, coral moss, or English baby tears (Nertera granadensis), an ornamental plant.
- A dustymaiden, a flowering plant in the genus Chaenactis. An abundant wildflower following good winter rains, Fremont pincushion [Chaenactis fremontii] features heads composed entirely of white or pinkish disk flowers.
- A pincushion cactus, of the genera Escobaria or Mammillaria. Alverson's pincushion cactus (Coryophantha vivipara var. alversonii), under status review by the USF&WS for possible listing as threatened or endangered, is reported to occur the along the northwest boundary of the WSA.
- A pincushionplant, a flowering plant in the genus Navarretia. Marigold pincushion [Navarretia tagetina], however, is widespread throughout the region except along the coast. [...] In eastern Sacramento County, it grows together with downy pincushion (Navarretia pubescens) in small clearings in blue oak woodland.
- A person who is pricked or stabbed multiple times with sharp objects; specifically, someone who receives regular hypodermic needle injections. Insulin-dependent diabetics are human pincushions.
verb pincushions · pincushioning · pincushioned
- To jab or stick repeatedly with one or more sharp objects, as with pins into a pincushion. The target was pincushioned with arrows.
- To assume the shape of a pincushion; specifically, of the image on a computer display, television, etc., to exhibit pincushion distortion, where the sides curve inwards. A monitor is pincushioning when the display appears to have curved sides.
Translations
Every language
noun device designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it
| Español | agujero, acerico, alfiletero |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 바늘겨레 baneulgyeore |
| Português | alfineteira |
| Français | pique-aiguille, pelote à épingles |
| Deutsch | Nadelkissen |
| Italiano | appuntaspilli, cuscinetto, torsello |
| Русский | игольница igolʹnica |
noun flowering plant in the genus Leucospermum
| Español | acerico |
|---|
Talk about this word "pincushion." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/pincushion. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. pincushion. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/pincushion "pincushion." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/pincushion.Cite this
@misc{pincushion_2026,
title = {pincushion},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/pincushion},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
