Dictionary
fingerprint
noun fin·ger·print \-ˌprint\
: the mark that is made by pressing the tip of a finger on a surface
: a mark of this kind made in ink for the purpose of identifying a person
: something (such as genetic material) that can be used to identify a person
Full Definition of FINGERPRINT
1
: the impression of a fingertip on any surface; also : an ink impression of the lines upon the fingertip taken for the purpose of identification
2
: something that identifies: as a : a trait, trace, or characteristic revealing origin or responsibility b : analytical evidence (as a spectrogram) that characterizes an object or substance; especially : the chromatogram or electrophoretogram obtained by cleaving a protein by enzymatic action and subjecting the resulting collection of peptides to two-dimensional chromatography or electrophoresis c : the base-pair pattern in an individual's DNA obtained by DNA fingerprinting
— fingerprint transitive verb
— fin·ger·print·ing noun
See fingerprint defined for English-language learners
See fingerprint defined for kids
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Illustration of FINGERPRINT
First Known Use of FINGERPRINT
1859
Related to FINGERPRINT
- Synonyms
- affection, attribute, attribution, character, criterion, diagnostic, differentia, feature, characteristic, hallmark, mark, marker, note, particularity, peculiarity, point, property, quality, specific, stamp, touch, trait
Rhymes with FINGERPRINT
FINGERPRINT Defined for Kids
1fingerprint
noun fin·ger·print \ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌprint\
Definition of FINGERPRINT for Kids
: the unique pattern of marks made by pressing the tip of a finger on a surface
2fingerprint
verb
fin·ger·print·edfin·ger·print·ing
Definition of FINGERPRINT for Kids
: to obtain fingerprints in order to identify a person
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