thumbprint

American  

[thuhm-print] / ˈθʌmˌprɪnt /

noun

1. a mark or impression of the ventral surface of the last joint of the thumb.

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thumbprint British  

/ ˈθʌmˌprɪnt /

noun

1. an impression of the upper part of the thumb, used esp for identification purposes See fingerprint

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Etymology

Origin of thumbprint

First recorded in 1895–1900; thumb + print

Example Sentences

In Hammani’s retelling, he relented after four days, applying his thumbprint to a written confession, which he wasn’t allowed to read.

From The Wall Street Journal

Kid Soul: Put a thumbprint on your time.

From Los Angeles Times

The EGG subsequently scans his/her/their thumbprint on the EGG to trigger energy conversion.

From Literature

In these postwar decades, Cowley’s thumbprint seemed to be on everything.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Writing is a way of marking existence. For me to have that as a thumbprint foundation to pretty much everything that I do is like: Before anything else, someone was here.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aspect
• attribute
• component
• essence
• flavor
• nature
• peculiarity
• personality
• quality
• style
• symptom
• temperament
• tendency
• tone
• virtue