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

“It’s really a thumb in the eye of places that are affected by climate change.”

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Fuller-Seeley says that “singing ‘Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?’ really caught on in popular culture as a way of trying to thumb your nose at the Great Depression.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

“A very simple rule of thumb for tactical liquidation is when gold and equities crash together, which usually signals margin call / liquidation-esque behavior,” they say.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

Galatasaray midfielder Noa Lang has said his surgery "went well" after he suffered a "serious cut" to his thumb during their 4-0 Champions League defeat at Anfield.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Christopher ran his thumb over the map in his pocket.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

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