thumb

[ thuhm ]

/ θʌm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR thumb ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

the corresponding digit in other animals; pollex.

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

Architecture. an ovolo or echinus molding.

verb (used with object)

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

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

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

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

RELATED WORDS

deride, disparage, ridicule

Nearby words

thuggee, thuja, thule, thulia, thulium, thumb, thumb a ride, thumb drive, thumb forceps, thumb glass, thumb index

Idioms

all thumbs, awkward; clumsy; bungling: The visitor almost knocked over a vase and seemed to be all thumbs.

thumb one's nose,

to put one's thumb to one's nose and extend the fingers as a crudely defiant or contemptuous gesture.
to express defiance or contempt; dismiss or reject contemptuously.

thumbs down, a gesture or expression of dissent or disapproval: We turned thumbs down to that suggestion.

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

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

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)

Related forms

thumb·less, adjectivethumb·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for thumb one's nose

thumb

/ (θʌm) /

noun

the first and usually shortest and thickest of the digits of the hand, composed of two short bonesTechnical name: pollex Related adjective: pollical

the corresponding digit in other vertebrates

the part of a glove shaped to fit the thumb

architect another name for ovolo

all thumbs clumsy

thumbs down an indication of refusal, disapproval, or negationhe gave the thumbs down on our proposal

thumbs up an indication of encouragement, approval, or acceptance

under someone's thumb at someone's mercy or command

verb

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

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

(when intr, often foll by through) to flip the pages of (a book, magazine, etc) perfunctorily in order to glance at the contents

thumb one's nose at to deride or mock, esp by placing the thumb on the nose with fingers extended

Derived Forms

thumbless, adjectivethumblike, adjective

Word Origin for thumb

Old English thūma; related to Old Saxon thūma, Old High German thūmo, Old Norse thumall thumb of a glove, Latin tumēre to swell

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for thumb one's nose

thumb

[ thŭm ]

n.

The short thick digit of the human hand, next to the index finger and opposable to each of the other four digits.

Idioms and Phrases with thumb one's nose (1 of 2)

thumb one's nose

Express scorn or ridicule. For example, I'm sure the members of the school committee thumb their noses at any suggestion we make. This expression alludes to the traditional gesture of contempt, that is, placing the thumb under the nose and wiggling the fingers. [c. 1900]

Idioms and Phrases with thumb one's nose (2 of 2)

thumb

In addition to the idioms beginning with thumb

thumb a ride
thumb one's nose
thumbs up

also see:

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

thumb

noun

verb (used with object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of thumb

Related forms

British Dictionary definitions for thumb one's nose

thumb

noun

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for thumb

Medicine definitions for thumb one's nose

thumb

n.

Idioms and Phrases with thumb one's nose (1 of 2)

thumb one's nose

Idioms and Phrases with thumb one's nose (2 of 2)

thumb