Dictionary

1hairpin

noun hair·pin \-ˌpin\

: a pin that is worn in your hair; especially : a pin shaped like a U that is worn to hold your hair in place

: an extremely sharp turn in a road that is shaped like a U

Full Definition of HAIRPIN

1
:  a pin to hold the hair in place; specifically :  a long U-shaped pin
2
:  something shaped like a hairpin; specifically :  a sharp U-shaped turn in a road
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First Known Use of HAIRPIN

1771

2hairpin

adjective

Definition of HAIRPIN

:  having the shape of a hairpin <a hairpin turn>; also :  having hairpin turns <a steep hairpin road>

First Known Use of HAIRPIN

1887
HAIRPIN[1] Defined for Kids

hairpin

noun hair·pin \ˈher-ˌpin\

Definition of HAIRPIN for Kids

:  a pin in the shape of a U for holding the hair in place
Medical Dictionary

hairpin

noun hair·pin \ˈha(ə)r-ˌpin, ˈhe(ə)r-\

Medical Definition of HAIRPIN

:  a region in single-stranded RNA or DNA that is double-stranded due to pairing between purine and pyrimidine bases in adjacent sequences of the RNA or DNA that are complementary and inverted—called also hairpin loop

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