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thumb

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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.

See thumb in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

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

to handle, turn, soil, or wear with or as with the thumb
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:

thumbless adjective

See thumb in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

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.
The part of a glove or mitten that covers the thumb.
Architecture An ovolo.

verb thumbed, thumb·ing, thumbs

verb, transitive

To scan (written matter) by turning over pages with or as if with the thumb.
To disarrange, soil, or wear by careless or frequent handling.
Informal To solicit (a ride) from a passing vehicle by signaling with the thumb.

verb, intransitive