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Word Study
thumb
CIDE DICTIONARY
thumb, n. [OE. thombe, thoumbe, , AS. ; akin to OFries. th, D. duim, G. daumen, OHG. d, Icel. , Dan. tommelfinger, Sw. tumme, and perhaps to L. tumere to swell. √56. Cf. Thimble, Tumid.].
The short, thick first digit of the human hand, differing from the other fingers in having but two phalanges; the pollex. See Pollex. [1913 Webster]
"Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring." [1913 Webster]
thumb, v. t.
- To handle awkwardly. Johnson. [1913 Webster]
- To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers; as, to thumb over a tune. [1913 Webster]
- To soil or wear with the thumb or the fingers; to soil, or wear out, by frequent handling; also, to cover with the thumb; as, to thumb the touch-hole of a cannon. [1913 Webster]"He gravely informed the enemy that all his cards had been thumbed to pieces, and begged them to let him have a few more packs." [1913 Webster]
thumb, v. i.
To play with the thumb or thumbs; to play clumsily; to thrum. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
thumb, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a short thick terminal projection on the human hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them. b a digit of other animals corresponding to this.
2 part of a glove etc. for a thumb.
--v.
1 tr. wear or soil (pages etc.) with a thumb (a well-thumbed book).
2 intr. turn over pages with or as with a thumb (thumbed through the directory).
3 tr. request or obtain (a lift in a passing vehicle) by signalling with a raised thumb.
4 tr. use the thumb in a gesture.
--n.
1 a a short thick terminal projection on the human hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them. b a digit of other animals corresponding to this.
2 part of a glove etc. for a thumb.
--v.
1 tr. wear or soil (pages etc.) with a thumb (a well-thumbed book).
2 intr. turn over pages with or as with a thumb (thumbed through the directory).
3 tr. request or obtain (a lift in a passing vehicle) by signalling with a raised thumb.
4 tr. use the thumb in a gesture.
Idiom
be all thumbs be clumsy with one's hands. thumb index n. a set of lettered grooves cut down the side of a diary, dictionary, etc. for easy reference.
--v.tr. provide (a book etc.) with these. thumb one's nose = cock a snook (see SNOOK(1)). thumb-nut a nut shaped for turning with the thumb and forefinger. thumbs down an indication of rejection or failure. thumbs up an indication of satisfaction or approval. under a person's thumb completely dominated by a person.
--v.tr. provide (a book etc.) with these. thumb one's nose = cock a snook (see SNOOK(1)). thumb-nut a nut shaped for turning with the thumb and forefinger. thumbs down an indication of rejection or failure. thumbs up an indication of satisfaction or approval. under a person's thumb completely dominated by a person.
Derivative
thumbed adj. (also in comb.). thumbless adj.
Etymology
OE thuma f. a WG root = swell
THESAURUS
thumb
OK, accept, all thumbs, annulary, approve of, awkward, be contemptuous of, catch a ride, clumsy, come in contact, contemn, dactylion, deride, digit, disapprove of, dismiss, feel, feel of, finger, flick, flip through, flout, forefinger, ham-fisted, handle, hitch, hitch a ride, hitch rides, hitchhike, index, index finger, jeer at, little finger, maladroit, manipulate, medius, middle finger, minimus, mock, okay, palm, palpate, paw, pinkie, ply, poke at, pollex, prod, rebuff, reject, ring finger, scoff at, scorn, tap, thumb through, touch, turn down, twiddle, welcome, wieldROGET THESAURUS
thumb
Touch
N touch, tact, taction, tactility, feeling, palpation, palpability, contrectation, manipulation, massage, hand, finger, forefinger, thumb, paw, feeler, antenna, palpus, tactual, tactile, tangible, palpable, lambent.VB touch, feel, handle, finger, thumb, paw, fumble, grope, grabble, twiddle, tweedle, pass the fingers over, run the fingers over, manipulate, wield, throw out a feeler.
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