plural fingers
1
: one of the five long parts of the hand that are used for holding things
especially
: one of the four that are not the thumb
Don't stick your fingers in the cookie batter!
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
The baby held onto my thumb with her tiny fingers.
She ran her fingers through his hair.
He drummed his fingers on the table impatiently.
2
a
: something that is long and thin and looks like a finger
a finger of land extending into the sea
a finger of flame
b
: the part of a glove into which a finger is placed
3
US, informal
: an obscene gesture made by pointing the middle finger up, keeping the other fingers down, and turning the palm towards you
She was so mad, she gave him the finger.
Some angry driver flipped me the finger on the highway this morning.
fingers; fingered; fingering
1
: to touch (something) with your fingers
She fingered the silk.
She fingered her necklace.
2
chiefly US, informal
: to identify (someone) as the person who has committed a crime
He was fingered as a suspect.
Cite this Entry
“Finger.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/finger. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
