opposable thumb

Scientific  

/ ə-pō′zə-bəl /

1. 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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opposable thumb Cultural  

1. A thumb that can be used for grasping.

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Discover More

Opposable thumbs are one of the distinguishing features of primates.

The opposable thumb of human beings allows us to use tools.

Example Sentences

Plus there is the contagious happiness of Thomas himself, sniffing and wagging his way along the sidewalks and beach, reminding me that there are many delights in this world that don’t require a computer keyboard, or for that matter, an opposable thumb.

From The Wall Street Journal

“A thumb, yes, because the opposable thumb is what differentiates us from beasts.”

From New York Times

Sprouting from your palm are four fingers and an opposable thumb.

From Salon

Dogs living outside human control may use force to establish their social hierarchies, but so long as you are the one with the big brain and the opposable thumb, who can operate the can opener and unlock the front door, you have no need to demonstrate your status with shock collars and other tortuous instruments — and doing so would not make your dog any more likely to look up to you.

From Washington Post

Few species own the opposable thumb that gives humans, for example, the power to literally get a grip.

From Washington Post