thumb

thumb
n. & v.
—n.
1 a a short thick terminal projection on the human hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them. b a digit of other animals corresponding to this.
2 part of a glove etc. for a thumb.
—v.
1 tr. wear or soil (pages etc.) with a thumb (a well-thumbed book).
2 intr. turn over pages with or as with a thumb (thumbed through the directory).
3 tr. request or obtain (a lift in a passing vehicle) by signalling with a raised thumb.
4 tr. use the thumb in a gesture.
Phrases and idioms:
be all thumbs be clumsy with one's hands. thumb index n. a set of lettered grooves cut down the side of a diary, dictionary, etc. for easy reference.
—v.tr. provide (a book etc.) with these. thumb one's nose = cock a snook (see SNOOK(1)). thumb-nut a nut shaped for turning with the thumb and forefinger. thumbs down an indication of rejection or failure. thumbs up an indication of satisfaction or approval. under a person's thumb completely dominated by a person.
Derivatives:
thumbed adj. (also in comb.). thumbless adj.
Etymology: OE thuma f. a WG root = swell

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Thumb — Thumb, n. [OE. thombe, thoumbe, [thorn]ume, AS. [thorn][=u]ma; akin to OFries. th[=u]ma, D. duim, G. daumen, OHG. d[=u]mo, Icel. [thorn]umall, Dan. tommelfinger, Sw. tumme, and perhaps to L. tumere to swell. [root]56. Cf. {Thimble}, {Tumid}.] The …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • thumb — [thum] n. [ME (with unhistoric b) < OE thuma, akin to Ger daume(n) < IE base * tēu , to swell, increase > L tumor: basic sense, “enlarged finger”] 1. the short, thick digit of the human hand that is nearest the wrist and is opposable to… …   English World dictionary

  • thumb — ► NOUN ▪ the short, thick first digit of the hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them. ► VERB 1) press, touch, or indicate with one s thumb. 2) turn over (pages) with one s thumb. 3) (thumbed) (of a book s pages) worn… …   English terms dictionary

  • Thumb — Thumb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Thumbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Thumbing}.] 1. To handle awkwardly. Johnson. [1913 Webster] 2. To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers; as, to thumb over a tune. [1913 Webster] 3. To soil or wear with the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • Thumb — Thumb, v. i. To play with the thumb or thumbs; to play clumsily; to thrum. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thumb — index peruse Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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  • thumb — [[t]θʌ̱m[/t]] thumbs, thumbing, thumbed 1) N COUNT Your thumb is the short thick piece on the side of your hand next to your four fingers. She bit the tip of her left thumb, not looking at me. 2) N COUNT The thumb of a glove is the part which a… …   English dictionary

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