Main Entry: ¹fin·ger·print

Pronunciation: \-ˌprint\

Function: noun

1 : the impression of a fingertip on any surface ; especially : an ink impression of the lines on the fingertip taken for purpose of identification

[fingerprint illustration]

2 : analytical evidence (as a spectrogram) that characterizes an object or substance ; especially : the chromatogram or electrophoretogram obtained by cleaving a protein by enzymatic action and subjecting the resulting collection of peptides to two-dimensional chromatography or electrophoresis—compare dna fingerprinting