plural thumbs
Definition of thumb
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
: something resembling or suggesting a thumb
I steep the tea with a thumb of ginger, which brings a lovely hint of spice …— Sarah Nasello I stop for a while among the crowds at the Pinnacle, a thumb of rock protruding from the rim of the Wonderland Range above Halls Gap.— Andrew Bain
4
: a convex molding : ovolo
all thumbs
under one's thumb
or under the thumb
: extremely awkward or clumsy
: under control : in a state of subservience
her father did not have her that much under his thumb— Hamilton Basso
thumb
verb
thumbed; thumbing; thumbs
Definition of thumb (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to turn over pages
thumb through a book
1
: to request or obtain (a ride) in a passing automobile by signaling with the thumb
2a
: 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for thumb
The first known use of thumb was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century