thumb

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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

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

Doctors were not able to reattach her thumb, and Patton is now permanently disfigured, according to the lawsuit.

— tony rizzo, kansascity, "Thumb bitten off by dog prompts lawsuit between Olathe neighbors," 24 Aug. 2017
In the 1920s and ’30s, companies started producing gloves with a web between the thumb and forefinger, to create a pocket.

— andrew mayeda, star-telegram, "Made in America: Nation’s last baseball-glove maker refuses to die in Texas," 20 Aug. 2017
Keep your thumb on top of the cork, and never point it at anyone.

— sarah solomon, Town & Country, "An Etiquette Guide to Champagne and Oysters," 28 July 2017
Theron dresses up as an MI6 killer-chick in Atomic Blonde, and Cotillard wears sackcloth couture portraying another hard-luck dame under the thumb of the patriarchy, in From the Land of the Moon.

— armond white, National Review, "From the Land of the Moon," 28 July 2017
In a movie featuring performances as natural and winning as Tatum’s and Keough’s, MacFarlane’s bad-accented shtick, all loud and cartoony, is a sore thumb.

— richard lawson, HWD, "Logan Lucky Review: A Southern-Fried Ocean’s Eleven That Goes Down Easy," 26 July 2017
The serious chemical spill that killed hundreds of fish in Hite and Harrods Creek last week has both the Metropolitan Sewer District and the Ford Motor Co. under a regulatory thumb.

— james bruggers, The Courier-Journal, "Ford Co., MSD face fines after chemical kills hundreds of fish," 24 July 2017
To prove their identities, voters must press thumb or finger on a tablet (shown here).

— The Economist, "How to unrig an electionNew methods and technology can make elections fairer," 20 July 2017
But, remember, when your aim is an ideal summer weekend upstate, the best rule of thumb is to wander and not rush, taking the time to drive along country roads with no destination in mind.

— sylvie morgan brown, Bon Appetit, "A Weekender's Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Shopping in the Hudson Valley," 10 July 2017

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

Thumbs up, thumbs down Thumbs up to trainer Phil D’Amato, who got Hunt to the winner’s circle in the Del Mar Handicap and a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

— jeff nahill, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Gun Runner needs to earn top spot," 22 Aug. 2017
In one strip early on, Sam thumbs through a phone book looking for a new artist and writer.

— cullen murphy, Vanities, "When Fairfield County Was the Comic-Strip Capital of the World," 9 Aug. 2017
In one strip early on, Sam thumbs through a phone book looking for a new artist and writer.

— cullen murphy, Vanities, "When Fairfield County Was the Comic-Strip Capital of the World," 9 Aug. 2017
In one strip early on, Sam thumbs through a phone book looking for a new artist and writer.

— cullen murphy, vanityfair.com, "When Fairfield County Was the Comic-Strip Capital of the World," 3 Aug. 2017
Mandi Wright, Detroit Free Press Flanked by five photographers, two camera crews, a handful of reporters and several onlooking fans, Claressa Shields thumbs through her phone and selects songs to play during her workout Monday.

— brandon folsom, Detroit Free Press, "Claressa Shields ready to take on world champ, be face of women's sports," 10 July 2017
The data from the new report were taken from Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down!

— victoria knight, CNN, "Tobacco use jumps 80% in top-grossing movies," 10 July 2017
In their pursuit of perks, pay and power, Assembly members are thumbing their collective noses at voters who, by approving Proposition 54, demanded greater transparency in the lawmaking process.

— jon coupal, Orange County Register, "The relentless battle for legislative transparency," 10 June 2017
Withdrawing from the treaty is the latter-day equivalent of President Ronald Reagan’s 1980s removal of the solar panels that President Jimmy Carter had installed on the White House—a nose-thumbing token of tribal membership.

— charles c. mann, The Hive, "The Fallacy (and Idiocy) of Trump’s Climate Agenda," 1 June 2017

First Known Use of thumb

circa 1647

thumb Synonyms

Synonyms

hitch, hitchhike

Related Words

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

Near Antonyms

pore (over); study

THUMB Defined for English Language Learners

thumb

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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

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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

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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