SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

fingerpicking

noun fin·ger·pick·ing \ ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌpi-kiŋ \

Definition of fingerpicking

: a method of playing a stringed instrument (such as a guitar) with the thumb and tips of the fingers rather than with a pick

—

fingerpick

play \ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌpik\ verb

First Known Use of fingerpicking

1956

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up fingerpicking? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

riposte

play

a quick and clever reply

Words at Play

Noun + Verb Insult Generator

A collection of obscure put-downs

alt-5b0834b915e3f

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

A judgment call

alt-5b06e60511014

'Deprived' vs. 'Depraved'

Nobody wants to be either.

alt-5b05d8545c817

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

Tag the way you want to tag.

Ask the Editors

video-ghost-words

Ghost Word

The story of an imaginary word that managed to sneak past our editors and enter the dictionary.

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

We’re already at the end of May?!

Take the quiz

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

How familiar are you with Nabokov’s unfamiliar vocabulary?

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Add Diction

Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.

Play the game