[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sin/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / sin

# sin

noun (a sin, sins; sin — uncountable); verb (sin, sins, sinned, sinning); also an abbreviation sin (maths: sine)

«sin» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. In religion, an act that breaks God's law or a religious rule. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#m1)
2. (informal) Something that seems very wrong or a shame: It's a sin to waste good food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#m2)
3. (maths abbreviation) sin = sine, a function in trigonometry used with angles in triangles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#m3)

### In the lessons

In religious education, the idea of sin appears in Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other faiths, along with forgiveness. In everyday talk «It's a sin to…» means it's a terrible waste or shame. In older pupils' maths, sin, cos and tan are buttons on a calculator. «Ugly as sin» means very ugly; «live in sin» is an old phrase.

### Examples

- Many religions teach that stealing is a sin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#x1)
- It's a sin to throw away that cake! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#x2)
- He asked to be forgiven for his sins. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#x3)
- Press the sin button on the calculator to find the sine of 30 degrees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#x4)
- In the story, greed was his worst sin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#x5)
- Wasting a sunny day indoors would be a sin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#x6)
- "I will confess all my sins first. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/#x7)

### Note

Past: sinned (double n). Person: sinner. As a maths word, «sin» is short for sine and is said «sine». Not the same as «crime» (against the law of the land).

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, sin is any act against God's commands, and a "sin-offering" is a sacrifice brought to make up for a wrong done by mistake.

**Interpretation.** Tradition teaches that a person who regrets and turns back (teshuvah) can be forgiven, and Yom Kippur is the day of atonement for sins.

### Examples

- one male of the goats for a sin-offering; (Torah NUM.7.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sin/#x1)
- and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you. (Torah NUM.28.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sin/#x2)
- and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you; (Torah NUM.29.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sin/#x3)
- How many are mine iniquities and sins? (Writings JOB.13.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sin/#x4)
- Make me to know my transgression and my sin. (Writings JOB.13.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sin/#x5)
- If thou hast sinned, what doest thou against Him? (Writings JOB.35.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sin/#x6)

### Note

Past: sinned (double n). Person: sinner. As a maths word, «sin» is short for sine and is said «sine». Not the same as «crime» (against the law of the land).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sin» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sin/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sin» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sin.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «sin» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sin/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sin» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/sin.html) on Mova free.