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

²thumb

verb

Definition of THUMB

transitive verb

1

a : to leaf through (pages) with the thumb : turn

b : to soil or wear by or as if by repeated thumbing <a badly thumbed book>

2

: to request or obtain (a ride) in a passing automobile by signaling with the thumb

intransitive verb

1

: to turn over pages <thumb through a book>

2

: to travel by thumbing rides : hitchhike <thumbed across the country>

— thumb one's nose

1

: to place the thumb at one's nose and extend the fingers as a gesture of scorn or defiance

2

: to express disdain or defiance <thumb their nose at opulence — Sales Management>

Examples of THUMB

1. I thumbed a ride to school.
2. He thumbed his way to New York.
3. He thumbed across the country.

First Known Use of THUMB

circa 1647

Related to THUMB

Synonyms

hitch, hitchhike

Related Words

bum; stow away; carjack, hijack (also highjack)

Near Antonyms

pore (over); study

thumb

noun \ˈthəm\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of THUMB

: the short and thick first or most preaxial digit of the human hand that differs from the other fingers in having only two phalanges, in having greater freedom of movement, and in being opposable to the other fingers

Illustration of THUMB