opposable thumb
[ ə-pō′zə-bəl ]
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A thumb that can be placed opposite the fingers of the same hand. Opposable thumbs allow the digits to grasp and handle objects and are characteristic of primates.
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Words nearby opposable thumb
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Example sentences from the Web for opposable thumb
Cultural definitions for opposable thumb
opposable thumb
A thumb that can be used for grasping.
notes for opposable thumb
Opposable thumbs are one of the distinguishing features of primates.
notes for opposable thumb
The opposable thumb of human beings allows us to use tools.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.