thumb

The thumb is the short finger on your hand that is nearest your wrist.

(noun)

The short finger on your hand that is opposable to your other fingers is an example of a thumb.

To thumb is to use the short finger of your hand to touch something or to turn the pages of a book.

(verb)

When you turn the pages of a book using the short finger on your hand, this is an example of a time when you thumb through the book.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See thumb in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. the short, thick digit of the human hand that is nearest the wrist and is opposable to the other fingers
  2. a corresponding part in some other vertebrate animals
  3. the part of a glove or mitten that covers the thumb
  4. Archit. ovolo

Origin: ME (with unhistoric -b) < OE thuma, akin to Ger daume(n) < IE base *tēu-, to swell, increase > L tumor: basic sense, “enlarged finger”

transitive verb

  1. to handle, turn, soil, or wear with or as with the thumb
  2. Informal to solicit or get (a ride) or make (one's way) in hitchhiking by gesturing with the thumb extended in the direction one is traveling

Related Forms:

See thumb in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. The short thick digit of the human hand, next to the index finger and opposable to each of the other four digits.
    b. A corresponding digit in other animals, especially primates. Also called pollex.
  2. The part of a glove or mitten that covers the thumb.
  3. Architecture An ovolo.
verb thumbed, thumb·ing, thumbs
verb, transitive
  1. To scan (written matter) by turning over pages with or as if with the thumb.
  2. To disarrange, soil, or wear by careless or frequent handling.
  3. Informal To solicit (a ride) from a passing vehicle by signaling with the thumb.
verb, intransitive
  1. To scan written matter by turning over pages with or as if with the thumb: thumbed through the latest issue of the magazine.
  2. Informal To hitchhike.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English thūma; see teuə- in Indo-European roots

.

Learn more about thumb

link/cite print suggestion box