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

A rule of thumb: If I haven’t touched an item since I moved into my current apartment, then it’s not coming with me to the next one.

From MarketWatch

This season, he missed five weeks with the Devils after slicing his right thumb open on broken glass at a team dinner.

From Los Angeles Times

Two weeks later, Hess held his thumb and forefinger in the shape of an “L” to his forehead after his first qualifying run.

From Los Angeles Times

But in the video itself, the signs on Croydon's North End are in English, the cyclist has no balaclava and Caz is giving him the thumbs up after a friendly chat.

From BBC

Her priority was to show Glenn how proud she was of her with a thumbs up—stressing Glenn out.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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