plural thumbs
1
: the short, thick finger on the side of your hand
a little girl sucking her thumb
I accidentally cut my thumb.
2
: the part of a glove or mitten that covers a thumb
My mitten has a hole in the thumb.
thumbs; thumbed; thumbing
informal
: 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 : hitchhike
I thumbed a ride/lift to school.
He thumbed his way to New York.
He thumbed across the country.
Cite this Entry
“Thumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/thumb. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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