tenpin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (B2-C1)Neutral to slightly formal, except when referring directly to the sport, where it is standard.
Quick answer
What does “tenpin” mean?
A tall, slender pin used as a target in the sport of tenpin bowling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall, slender pin used as a target in the sport of tenpin bowling.
The specific sport of bowling using ten such pins, also known as tenpin bowling. Can refer to the pin itself or, metonymically, the sport.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'tenpin bowling' is the standard, specific term for the common modern sport with ten pins. 'Bowling' alone more commonly refers to lawn bowls. In the US, 'bowling' almost exclusively means tenpin bowling; 'tenpin' is a less common, more formal variant.
Connotations
In the UK, the term carries a more specific, technical, or commercial connotation (e.g., a 'tenpin bowling alley'). In the US, it is simply descriptive of the equipment, with the sport being called 'bowling'.
Frequency
The term 'tenpin' is used more frequently in British English to specify the sport. In American English, the word 'pin' is often used alone (e.g., 'He knocked down the front pin').
Grammar
How to Use “tenpin” in a Sentence
[Adj] + tenpintenpin + [noun][verb] + the tenpinsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tenpin” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He joined a tenpin league.
- The tenpin tournament starts next week.
American English
- She is a tenpin champion.
- We're going to the tenpin alley.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the leisure and hospitality industry ('tenpin bowling centre management').
Academic
Rare; might appear in sports science or history of sport studies.
Everyday
Common when discussing the sport or planning a leisure activity ('Fancy a game of tenpin?').
Technical
Specific to the sport's equipment, rules, and techniques.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tenpin”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tenpin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tenpin”
- Using 'tenpin' as a verb (e.g., 'We went tenpinning'). The correct verb is 'to bowl'. Confusing 'tenpin' with 'ninepin' or 'lawn bowls'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Tenpin' specifically refers to the pin used in the sport or the sport itself ('tenpin bowling'). 'Bowling' is the general activity, which in American English means tenpin bowling, but can refer to other variants (e.g., lawn bowling, candlepin bowling) elsewhere.
No. The verb is 'to bowl' or 'to go bowling'. For example, 'Let's go bowling' is correct, not 'Let's go tenpinning'.
Ten, arranged in a triangular formation at the end of the lane.
In British English, 'tenpin bowling' is the common term to distinguish it from lawn bowls. In American English, the sport is simply called 'bowling', and 'tenpin' is a more formal or descriptive term for the pin.
A tall, slender pin used as a target in the sport of tenpin bowling.
Tenpin is usually neutral to slightly formal, except when referring directly to the sport, where it is standard. in register.
Tenpin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtenpɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtenpɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TEN + PIN: Imagine ten tall, thin PINS standing in a triangular formation.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBJECT AS TARGET (the pin is the target for the bowling ball).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'tenpin'?