coin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a flat metal piece (usually a disc) used as money
  2. verb make up
    • coin phrases or words
  3. verb form by stamping, punching, or printing
    strike; mint.
    • strike coins
    • strike a medal

WordNet

Coin noun
Etymology
F. coin, formerly also coing, wedge, stamp, corner, fr. L. cuneus wedge; prob. akin to E. cone, hone. See Hone, n., and cf. Coigne, Quoin, Cuneiform.
Definitions
  1. A quoin; a corner or external angle; a wegde. See Coigne, and Quoin.
  2. A piece of metal on which certain characters are stamped by government authority, making it legally current as money; -- much used in a collective sense.
    It is alleged that it [a subsidy] exceeded all the current coin of the realm. Hallam.
  3. That which serves for payment or recompense.
    The loss of present advantage to flesh and blood is repaid in a nobler coin. Hammond.
Coin transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Coined present participle & verbal noun Coining
Definitions
  1. To make of a definite fineness, and convert into coins, as a mass of metal; to mint; to manufacture; as, to coin silver dollars; to coin a medal.
  2. To make or fabricate; to invent; to originate; as, to coin a word.
    Some tale, some new pretense, he daily coined, To soothe his sister and delude her mind. Dryden.
  3. To acquire rapidly, as money; to make.
    Tenants cannot coin rent just at quarter day. Locke.
Coin intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To manufacture counterfeit money.
    They cannot touch me for coining. Shak.

Webster 1913