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¹thumb

noun \ˈthəm\

: the short, thick finger on the side of your hand

: the part of a glove or mitten that covers a thumb

Full Definition of THUMB

: 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

: the part of a glove or mitten that covers the thumb

: 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

Origin of THUMB

Middle English thoume, thoumbe, from Old English thūma; akin to Old High German thūmo thumb, Latin tumēre to swell

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with THUMB

bum, chum, come, crumb, cum, drum, dumb, from, glum, gum, hum, lum, mum, numb, plum, plumb, rum, scrum, scum, slum, some, strum, sum, them, thrum

²thumb

verb

: 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

Full Definition of THUMB

transitive verb

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>

: to request or obtain (a ride) in a passing automobile by signaling with the thumb

intransitive verb

: to turn over pages <thumb through a book>

: to travel by thumbing rides : hitchhike <thumbed across the country>

— thumb one's nose

: to place the thumb at one's nose and extend the fingers as a gesture of scorn or defiance

: to express disdain or defiance <thumb their nose at opulence — Sales Management>

See thumb defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of THUMB

circa 1647

Related to THUMB

Synonyms: hitch, hitchhike

THUMB Defined for Kids

¹thumb

noun \ˈthəm\

Definition of THUMB for Kids

: the short thick finger next to the forefinger

: the part of a glove covering the thumb

²thumb

verb

thumbedthumb·ing

Definition of THUMB for Kids

: to turn the pages of quickly with the thumb

: to seek or get (a ride) in a passing automobile by signaling with the thumb

Medical Dictionary

thumb

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