thumbtack

American  

[thuhm-tak] / ˈθʌmˌtæk /

noun

thumbtacks plural

1. a tack with a large, flat head, designed to be thrust into a board or other fairly soft object or surface by the pressure of the thumb.

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verb (used with object)

1. to attach or tack by means of a thumbtack.

thumbtack British  

/ ˈθʌmˌtæk /

noun

1. Also called (esp in Britain): drawing pin.  a short tack with a broad smooth head for fastening papers to a drawing board, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• thumbtacks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of thumbtack

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; thumb + tack ¹

Compare meaning

How does thumbtack compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• thumbtack vs. pushpin

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thumbtack thumbtacks

You’ll also need scissors, white paper, tape, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack.

From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2024

“Honey! Did you see the picture of Angie’s labradoodle?” she might ask as I walked into her small white room to thumbtack another family photo to the otherwise bare walls.

From Slate ● Jun. 4, 2023

Then using the pushpin thumbtack, poke holes up and down the bag.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2023

You might even wish to write down what you feel, laminate it and thumbtack it to a free-standing bulletin board for all to see.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 19, 2018

I poked the thumbtack into the top of Momma’s picture and walked to the wall that she’d stuck all the pictures of horses on.

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis

BARCELONA, Spain — Andreas Kron of Denmark won a rainy second stage of the Spanish Vuelta that local media reported was marred when several competitors rode over thumbtacks on Sunday.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 28, 2023

It’s as visually pulse-pounding as thumbtacks on a driveway, and an invitation to close one’s eyes and concentrate on the A.S.M.R. pleasure of shuddering steel.

From New York Times ● Jun. 8, 2023

These metatheatrical maneuvers at the beginning and end of “Ava” seem as if they were added last minute with thumbtacks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2023

While we are on ravioli, even if they are stuffed with thumbtacks and rusty pennies, they are better than spaghetti.

From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2023

There were three boxes of thumbtacks, and one of those doggone Ticonderoga pencils.

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis