thumb

noun \ ˈthəm \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 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

Thames has been on the 10-day disabled list since April 25 after undergoing surgery on his left thumb.

— todd rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers 5, White Sox 0: Late power surge seals victory," 2 June 2018
According to recent tweets, Davidson is now sporting a tattoo on his thumb with the initials AG as well as Grande’s iconic Dangerous Woman bunny ears mask behind his ear.

— sarah midkiff, refinery29.com, "Pete Davidson & Ariana Grande Made It Official With...Tattoos," 2 June 2018
Those not born with an Apple product attached to their thumbs might recognize his inspiration as the grandfather of the rotary dial.

— darryl levings, kansascity, "Kansas City has been dialed in to telephone innovations from the very beginning," 2 June 2018
In the final scene of the episode, Offred wields a pen in her hand, pressing her thumb down upon it much as Ofglen used a detonator to cause so much damage.

— josh wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, "How 'Handmaid's Tale' Reacted to Its Most Destructive Moment Yet," 31 May 2018
At the time, Williams was an intellectually disabled 16-year-old who still sucked his thumb and urinated on himself frequently, CBS News reports.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Louisiana Man Released After 20 Years In Prison For Crime He Maintains He Did Not Commit," 31 May 2018
While reciting their vows, Harry presses his thumbs down into Meghan's hands.

— amanda garrity, Good Housekeeping, "Body Language Experts Compare Meghan and Harry's Wedding to Kate and Will's," 20 May 2018
The summer gardening season fast approaches and the Southland is blooming with news and opportunities to turn your thumbs green.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "From raised beds to seed bombs, what's growing in the gardening world?," 15 May 2018
Media close to the Ohio State program suspected Burrow might be out the door at end of last season when Haskins saw considerably more playing time than Burrow even after his broken thumb healed.

— ron higgins, NOLA.com, "LSU's Game of Throws may have a new warrior entering the QB battle," 10 May 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

thumbed; thumbing; thumbs

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

Most importantly my under-eye area wasn’t a raccoon-looking mess at the end of the day, so extra thumbs up for its staying power.

— The Cut, "5 Women Road-Test Glossier’s New Mascara," 10 May 2018
For the second time, the Bundys thumbed their noses at the feds and got away with it. * * * April 2014.

— leah sottile, Longreads, "Bundyville Chapter One: A War in the Desert," 15 May 2018
But when Nelson wanted to evolve from there, those people thumbed their noses at him.

— joseph n. distefano, Philly.com, "Can 'Dodo' Hamilton's auction boost Philly's Leonard Nelson from art-price purgatory?," 14 May 2018
But the truth is, esports has been and will be popular whether or not traditionalists thumb their noses at it.

— rohan nadkarni, SI.com, "Inside the NBA 2K League's Inaugural Draft," 5 Apr. 2018
Trump’s demagogic and xenophobic rhetoric, as well as his willingness to thumb his nose at the Republican establishment, are more than matched by Blankenship.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "How the Republican Party Eats Itself, But Stays Alive," 8 May 2018
And of course there are the owners who thumb their noses at their fan base, with Dean Spanos coming in at Public Enemy No. 1.

— nancy armour, USA TODAY, "Racism, misogyny earn Redskins' Daniel Snyder title of NFL's worst owner," 2 May 2018
Which makes sense: Instagram is a highly visual medium where users can thumb through hundreds of pictures in the span of a couple minutes.

— cam wolf, GQ, "How UpscaleHype Became Menswear’s Most Important Instagram Account," 26 Apr. 2018
In short, a partisan Republican power play, retaliation for the gerrymander ruling and a move that (in one fell swoop) thumbs its nose at citizen action, flips the bird to the state high court and pushes the governor out of the way.

— john baer, Philly.com, "An iceberg on the voyage to fairer Pa. elections | John Baer," 16 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of thumb

circa 1647

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

See Words from the same year

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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