tenpins: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal
Quick answer
What does “tenpins” mean?
A bowling game played with ten pins as targets.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bowling game played with ten pins as targets.
The game of tenpin bowling; less commonly, the pins themselves used in that game.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'tenpin bowling' is the more common term for the sport. 'Tenpins' as a standalone term is rare in the UK. In American English, 'tenpins' is a recognized, though somewhat dated, casual term for the game.
Connotations
In American English, evokes a mid-20th century, recreational, social activity. In British English, the term sounds distinctly American.
Frequency
Low frequency in modern British English. Moderate-to-low in American English, often superseded by 'bowling' or 'tenpin bowling'.
Grammar
How to Use “tenpins” in a Sentence
[Subject] played tenpins.They went for a game of tenpins.We're meeting for tenpins on Thursday.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Everyday
Used to refer to the activity of bowling with ten pins, often in a social context.
Technical
Rare in technical contexts; 'tenpin bowling' is preferred.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tenpins”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tenpins”
- Using 'tenpins' to refer to the pins themselves (though understood, 'bowling pins' or 'tenpins' in context is better).
- Using 'tenpins' in formal British contexts where 'tenpin bowling' is expected.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is treated as plural in form (ending in -s) but is usually used with a singular verb when referring to the game (e.g., 'Tenpins is my favourite sport').
'Bowling' is the broad, generic term that can include variations like lawn bowling, candlepin bowling, or duckpin bowling. 'Tenpins' specifically refers to the most common modern version of the sport using ten pins.
It is not recommended. 'Tenpin bowling' is the standard formal term for the sport in both British and American English.
Rarely, it can refer to the pins themselves. It also exists in the dated chiefly British idiom 'to go tenpins', meaning to fall over completely in rapid succession.
A bowling game played with ten pins as targets.
Tenpins: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɛnpɪnz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɛnˌpɪnz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go tenpins (dated, chiefly UK) = to fall or collapse completely, like tenpins being knocked over.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TEN PINS standing in a triangle, waiting to be knocked down.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHAOS IS TENPINS FALLING (e.g., 'The market went tenpins').
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the term 'tenpins' most commonly used as a standalone term for the game?