pincushion UK /ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/US /ˈpɪnˌkʊʃ(ə)n/noun 9verb 2forms 3 noun9 •A 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. — 1671 •(informal, figurative) 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. •The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion. •A flowering plant in the genus Leucospermum. •A flowering plant in the genus Scabiosa. •A coral bead plant, coral moss, or English baby tears (Nertera granadensis), an ornamental plant. •A dustymaiden, a flowering plant in the genus Chaenactis.An abundant wildflower following good winter rains, Fremont pincushion [Chaenactis fremontii] features heads composed entirely of white or pinkish disk flowers. — 1989 •A pincushion cactus, of the genera Escobaria or Mammillaria. •A pincushionplant, a flowering plant in the genus Navarretia. verb2 •To jab or stick repeatedly with one or more sharp objects, as with pins into a pincushion.The target was pincushioned with arrows. •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. — 2001 formspincushioned · pincushioning · pincushions
