loin

noun
\ ˈlȯin How to pronounce loin (audio) \

Definition of loin

1a : the part of a human being or quadruped on each side of the spinal column between the hip bone and the false ribs
b : a cut of meat comprising this part of one or both sides of a carcass with the adjoining half of the vertebrae included but without the flank

2 loins plural

a : the upper and lower abdominal regions and the region about the hips
b(1) : the pubic region
(2) : the reproductive organs

Examples of loin in a Sentence

There was a towel wrapped around his loins.

Recent Examples on the Web

Whereas spare ribs come from the belly area, baby back ribs are taken from around loin, the muscle that runs along the pig’s back on either side of the spine. Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, "How to Buy the Right Kind of Pork Ribs," 21 Aug. 2019 Gird your loins for a terrifying ride through darkness in the first teaser trailer for Scott Cooper’s new horror movie Antlers. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, "Keri Russell faces terrifying creatures in deeply unsettling Antlers trailer," 20 Aug. 2019 Pork loin chops or lamb tenderloin medallions are two examples that fit that description. Wolfgang Puck, Twin Cities, "Wolfgang Puck: Make your Fourth of July menu sizzle with grilled steaks," 3 July 2019 Stone used it to encrust a venison loin, served with a celery root puree, roasted spaghetti squash, and venison jus. Wine Australia, Bon Appétit, "How Curtis Stone's Restaurants Reflect His Australian Roots," 23 July 2019 Also on the antipasti platter, soppressata laced with fennel and hot pepperoncini, and capocollo, made from pork loin and cured for a hundred days. Frances Mayes, National Geographic, "Discover Italy’s most delicious secret," 11 July 2019 Sure, Grace Kelly’s gowns or Audrey Hepburn’s pearls may inspire viewers to elegance, but can all that classicism compete with John Travolta in a loin cloth? Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "The 20 Campiest Movie Costumes of All Time," 23 Apr. 2019 That inspired me to do three preparations of a dish, so each person gets lamb three ways—lamb loin, lamb belly, and lamb consommé. Melanie Kaplan, Fortune, "This $150 Eight-Course Tasting Menu Pairs Food With Art," 15 June 2019 In anticipation of hard work, most also wore shorts, though a few guys had opted to gird their loins in a traditional fundoshi, a sort of jockstrap crossed with a thong. Neil Shea, National Geographic, "Tokyo became a megacity by reinventing itself," 12 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of loin

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for loin

Middle English loyne, from Anglo-French loigne, from Vulgar Latin *lumbea, from Latin lumbus; akin to Old English lendenu loins, Old Church Slavonic lędviję

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More Definitions for loin

loin

noun

English Language Learners Definition of loin

: an area on the back of an animal's body near the tail
: meat from this area
: the area of a person's body that includes the sexual organs

loin

noun
\ ˈlȯin How to pronounce loin (audio) \

Kids Definition of loin

1 : the part of the body between the hip and the lower ribs
2 : a piece of meat (as beef) from the loin of an animal

loin

noun
\ ˈlȯin How to pronounce loin (audio) \

Medical Definition of loin

1 : the part of the body of a human or a quadruped that is situated on each side of the spinal column between the hip bone and the false ribs

2 loins plural

a : the upper and lower abdominal regions and the region about the hips
b(1) : the pubic region
(2) : the generative organs not usually used technically in senses 2a, b

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