thumb

noun \ ˈthəm \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

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

See thumb defined for English-language learners

See thumb defined for kids

Examples of thumb in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of thumb from the Web

Targeted sanctions against the oligarchs are seen as a particularly good way to punish Putin's aggressive moves while sparing wider Russian society, which is already suffering under Putin's thumb.

— author: gardiner harris, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump administration imposes new sanctions on oligarchs tied to Putin," 6 Apr. 2018
And McCain, in dramatic fashion, strode onto the Senate floor and literally gave the health-care bill the thumbs-down.

— dan nowicki, azcentral, "John McCain wins 6th Arizona Senate term, reclaims 'maverick' label," 2 Apr. 2018
Nerlens Noel has come back strong from thumb surgery and is averaging 8.6 rebounds over his last eight games. ...

— joe vardon, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Dallas Mavericks, Game 77 preview and listings," 1 Apr. 2018
The potatoes shown here have colorful names: Russian banana, purple fiesta and red thumb.

— john sowell, idahostatesman, "You know the russet, Idaho’s Goliath potato. Meet its colorful David challengers. | Idaho Statesman," 31 Mar. 2018
All the basics are there though, and the simulation is granular enough to, for instance, require you to remove the thumb screws from rear of the case before pulling the side panels off.

— hayden dingman, PCWorld, "PC Building Simulator might be one of the most important DIY enthusiast tools ever created," 31 Mar. 2018
But the Shelter, Charlotte City Partners, and city officials gave Middlesworth's idea the thumbs-down.

— tim funk, charlotteobserver, "From enemy to ally: How this North Tryon businessman is now helping the Men's Shelter | Charlotte Observer," 30 Mar. 2018
Faraway scientists might then attempt to spot our atmosphere, to see whether life's thumb is on the chemical scales.

— National Geographic, "Aliens Could Detect Life on Earth. Here's How.," 26 Mar. 2018
Kevin Durant is out with a sore rib, Draymond Green is out with a midsection contusion and Klay Thompson is nursing a broken right thumb.

— khadrice rollins, SI.com, "Steph Curry Suffers Left MCL Sprain In First Game Back From Right Ankle Injury," 24 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thumb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of thumb

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Anatomy Terms

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

thumb

verb

Definition of thumb

intransitive verb

1 : to turn over pages

thumb through a book

2 : to travel by thumbing rides : hitchhike

thumbed across the country

transitive verb

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

2 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

— thumb one's nose

1 : to express disdain or defiance

thumb their nose at opulence
—Sales Management

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

See thumb defined for English-language learners

Examples of thumb in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of thumb from the Web

Few states have thumbed a collective nose at President Trump more than California.

— john myers, latimes.com, "Essential Politics: A backlash to the California 'resistance,' even as the fight continues," 28 Mar. 2018
If America thumbs its nose at the WTO, why shouldn’t others?

— The Economist, "Even if America wins concessions, worry," 28 Mar. 2018
Officials in one of Indiana's wealthiest cities are thumbing their noses at a new state law intended to curtail local governments' authority to regulate short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, raising the possibility of a court fight.

— aileen chuang, Indianapolis Star, "No love for Airbnb? Carmel thumbs nose at Indiana's new short-term rentals law," 24 Mar. 2018
Barely a week later, the California Air Resources Board thumbed its nose at the feds by reconfirming its commitment to the Obama-era regulations.

— dale kasler, sacbee, "Trump administration signals fight with California over pollution from cars | The Sacramento Bee," 13 Mar. 2018
But any movement between the nations would also hinge on the United States, which has warned of further sanctions if North Korea continues to thumb its nose at calls to cease its weapons programs.

— rima abdelkader, NBC News, "Unified Korean women’s ice hockey team debuts at Olympics to heartfelt cheers," 10 Feb. 2018
Odor and Shin-Soo Choo add a small pad on their right thumbs to take away the chances of breaking the finger and to reduce the sting when jammed.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "A 15-year-old bruise? That's one reason Rangers hitters seek extra protection | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 4 Mar. 2018
The project is being led by one of the most vaunted but enigmatic figures in the tech world, Pavel Durov, who built the biggest social network in Russia, VKontakte, before thumbing his nose at Vladimir V. Putin and fleeing the country.

— nathaniel popper, New York Times, "Virtual Currency Offerings May Hit a New Peak with Telegram Coin Sale," 4 Mar. 2018
And now the very people who should have been protecting us all along ... have thumbed their nose at any semblance of accountability.

— rochelle riley, Detroit Free Press, "Rochelle Riley: An open letter to Lou Anna Simon about Larry Nassar," 24 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of thumb

circa 1647

thumb Synonyms

THUMB Defined for English Language Learners

thumb

noun

Definition of thumb for English Language Learners

: the short, thick finger on the side of your hand
: the part of a glove or mitten that covers a thumb

thumb

verb

Definition of thumb for English Language Learners

: to ask for or get a ride in a passing vehicle by sticking out your arm with your thumb up as you stand on the side of the road

THUMB Defined for Kids

thumb

noun \ ˈthəm \

Definition of thumb for Students

1 : the short thick finger next to the forefinger

2 : the part of a glove covering the thumb

thumb

verb

Definition of thumb for Students

thumbed; thumbing

1 : to turn the pages of quickly with the thumb

2 : to seek or get (a ride) in a passing automobile by signaling with the thumb

Medical Dictionary

thumb

noun \ ˈthəm \

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