thumb

American  

[thuhm] / θʌm /

noun

1. the short, thick, inner digit of the human hand, next to the forefinger.

2. the corresponding digit in other animals; pollex.

3. the part of a glove or mitten for containing this digit.

4. Architecture. an ovolo or echinus molding.

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verb (used with object)

1. to soil or wear with the thumbs in handling, as the pages of a book.

2. to glance through (the pages of a book, leaflet, etc.) quickly.

3. to play (a guitar or other instrument) with or as with the thumbs.

4. (of a hitchhiker) to solicit or get (a ride) by pointing the thumb in the desired direction of travel.

idioms

1. thumbs up, a gesture or expression of assent or approval.

2. under one's thumb, under the power or influence of; subordinate to. Also under the thumb of.

3. thumb one's nose,

   1. to put one's thumb to one's nose and extend the fingers as a crudely defiant or contemptuous gesture.

   2. to express defiance or contempt; dismiss or reject contemptuously.

4. thumbs down, a gesture or expression of dissent or disapproval.

   We turned thumbs down to that suggestion.

5. all thumbs, awkward; clumsy; bungling.

   The visitor almost knocked over a vase and seemed to be all thumbs.

thumb British  

/ θʌm /

noun

1. Technical name: pollex.  the first and usually shortest and thickest of the digits of the hand, composed of two short bones

2. the corresponding digit in other vertebrates

3. the part of a glove shaped to fit the thumb

4. architect another name for ovolo

5. clumsy

6. an indication of refusal, disapproval, or negation

   he gave the thumbs down on our proposal

7. an indication of encouragement, approval, or acceptance

8. at someone's mercy or command

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verb

1. (tr) to touch, mark, or move with the thumb

2. to attempt to obtain (a lift or ride) by signalling with the thumb

3. to flip the pages of (a book, magazine, etc) perfunctorily in order to glance at the contents

4. to deride or mock, esp by placing the thumb on the nose with fingers extended

thumb More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing thumb

• all thumbs
• green thumb
• rule of thumb
• stick out (like a sore thumb)
• twiddle one's thumbs
• under someone's thumb

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Other Word Forms

• thumbless adjective
• thumblike adjective

Etymology

Origin of thumb

before 900; Middle English; Old English thūma; cognate with Dutch duim, Old Saxon, Old High German dūmo ( German Daumen ), Old Norse thumall; akin to Latin tumēre to swell ( tumor )

Example Sentences

But he is also sending a message to the rest of the world that the U.S. now has a large share of the world’s production under its thumb.

From The Wall Street Journal

As a rule of thumb, a payout ratio over 80% is considered risky.

From Barron's

For people planning to leave the workforce in their 60s, one rule of thumb is to set aside 15% of gross income for retirement.

From MarketWatch

"As a rule of thumb, we'd recommend looking for deals cheaper than the current price cap, not longer than 12 months and without significant exit fees," she said.

From BBC

Boston Dynamics gave its Atlas robots “grippers” with just three digits, one of which can rotate to also serve as a thumb to help it hold objects.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• brush
• caress
• feel
• handle
• hit
• kiss
• lick
• pat
• reach
• rub
• strike
• stroke
• tap