pincushionnoun/ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/

• 1

  businessmanufacturingsewingA device, originally like a small, stuffed cushion, designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it to store them safely; some modern pincushions hold the objects magnetically.

  • Then for womens cloaths, the cabadge of cloath of ſilver, brancht Sattin, and the like, went for pin-cuſhions, pin-pillows, womens purſes; and if black, Church-wardens capes.
  • Some were condenſing Air into a dry tangible Subſtance, by extracting the Nitre, and letting the aqueous or fluid Particles percolate; others ſoftening Marble for Pillows or Pincuſhions; others petrifying the Hoofs of a living Horſe to preſerve them from foundring.
• 2

  The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.

  • [S]ee how the knowledge of the climate tolerances of one South African shrub, the Saldana pincushion (Leucospermum tomentosum) is integrated with projections of a global circulation model applied to the southern tip of South Africa [...].
• 3

  The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.

  • Scabiosa, often called mourning bride, pincushion flower, and sweet scabious, is an easily grown, old-fashioned, half-hardy annual. It is very attractive and satisfactory both for cutting and for borders and beds.
• 4

  The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.

• 5

  The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.

  • An abundant wildflower following good winter rains, Fremont pincushion [Chaenactis fremontii] features heads composed entirely of white or pinkish disk flowers.
  • Pebble pincushion [Chaenactis carphoclinia], a delicate annual wildflower with deeply divided leaves, has white or pinkish flowers crowded into heads. If the heads resemble pincushions, then the stamens poking out of the flowers must represent the pins.
• 6

  The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.

  • Alverson's pincushion cactus (Coryophantha vivipara var. alversonii), under status review by the USF&WS for possible listing as threatened or endangered, is reported to occur the along the northwest boundary of the WSA.
• 7

  The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.

  • Marigold pincushion [Navarretia tagetina], however, is widespread throughout the region except along the coast. [...] In eastern Sacramento County, it grows together with downy pincushion (Navarretia pubescens) in small clearings in blue oak woodland.
• 8

  A person who is pricked or stabbed multiple times with sharp objects; specifically, someone who receives regular hypodermic needle injections.

  • Insulin-dependent diabetics are human pincushions.
  • It took an hour to get there, and by the time the job was done we had collected so many cactus thorns that we felt like human pincushions.

pincushionverb/ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/

• 1

  To jab or stick repeatedly with one or more sharp objects, as with pins into a pincushion.

  • The target was pincushioned with arrows.
  • [page 290] Then Esther would be constantly making us little presents; little pin-cushions, and purses, and such like, which it was impossible to refuse. [...] [W]e had some very fine old lace, which had belonged to our mother, and we agreed that we would give this to Esther. [...] [pages 291–292] When the transaction came to Aunt Dorothy's knowledge, she was very indignant indeed; and said that we were "two fools to be pin-cushioned out of our mother's old point, which had been in our family ever so long.
• 2

  To assume the shape of a pincushion; specifically, of the image on a computer display, television, etc., to exhibit pincushion distortion, where the sides curve inwards.

  • A monitor is pincushioning when the display appears to have curved sides.
  • [page 42] Flaps, however, ‘pin cushion’ and develop a convex form as they contract. For this reason, flaps are best used to resurface convex surfaces. A skin graft is best for planar or concave recipient sites. [...] [page 282] As the flap contracts, it pin cushions. This trapdoor effect can contribute to a convex shape.