thumbnail

American  

[thuhm-neyl] / ˈθʌmˌneɪl /

noun

1. the nail of the thumb.

2. anything quite small or brief, as a small drawing or short essay.

3. Printing. a small, rough dummy.

4. Also called porkchop.  Journalism, Printing. a half-column portrait in a newspaper.

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adjective

1. quite small or brief; concise.

   a thumbnail description of Corsica.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a thumbnail sketch or description of.

thumbnail British  

/ ˈθʌmˌneɪl /

noun

1. the nail of the thumb

2. (modifier) concise and brief

   a thumbnail sketch

3. computing a small image which can be expanded

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Etymology

Origin of thumbnail

First recorded in 1595–1605; thumb + nail

Example Sentences

Gensler’s daughter created the show’s thumbnail art; his son-in-law built its website.

From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026

But if that thumbnail sketch makes “Lux” sound like homework, the songs themselves are immediate and visceral, and the singer’s impassioned delivery is an invitation to listen more closely.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

There's also a historian who tracked his thumbnail growth for 35 years, and physics researchers exploring the mysteries of pasta sauce.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025

I look for the jade plant in front of our apartment building, whose leaves I would press with my thumbnail while waiting for my parents to come downstairs.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2025

I sat with the boys at the table, supposedly helping them with their math, but really I ignored them while I stewed and bit on a thumbnail.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu