thumb

¹thumb

noun \ˈthəm\

Definition of THUMB

1

: the short thick digit of the human hand that is analogous in position to the big toe and differs from the other fingers in having only two phalanges, allowing greater freedom of movement, and being opposable to each of them; also : a corresponding digit in lower animals

2

: the part of a glove or mitten that covers the thumb

3

: a convex molding : ovolo

— all thumbs

: extremely awkward or clumsy

— under one's thumb or under the thumb

: under control : in a state of subservience <her father did not have her that much under his thumb — Hamilton Basso>

Examples of THUMB

1. a little girl sucking her thumb
2. I accidentally cut my thumb.
3. My mitten has a hole in the thumb.

Origin of THUMB

Middle English thoume, thoumbe, from Old English thūma; akin to Old High German thūmo thumb, Latin tumēre to swell

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with THUMB

bum, chum, come, crumb, cum, drum, dumb, from, glum, gum, hum, lum, mum, numb, plum, plumb, rum, scrum, scum, slum, some, strum, sum, them, thrum