Definition of Fingerprint

1. Noun. A print made by an impression of the ridges in the skin of a finger; often used for biometric identification in criminal investigations.


2. Verb. Take an impression of a person's fingerprints. "They want to fingerprint the prisoners "
Generic synonyms: Reproduce
Derivative terms: Fingerprinting

3. Noun. A generic term for any identifying characteristic. ; "That tax bill had the senator's fingerprints all over it"
Generic synonyms: Identification

4. Noun. A smudge made by a (dirty) finger.
Exact synonyms: Fingermark
Generic synonyms: Blot, Daub, Slur, Smear, Smirch, Smudge, Spot

Definition of Fingerprint

1. Noun. The unique natural pattern of ridges on the tips of the fingers. ¹

2. Noun. The patterns left on surfaces where uncovered fingertips have touched. ¹

3. Noun. (computing) Unique identification for public key in asymmetric cryptosystem. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To take somebody's fingerprints. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Fingerprint

1. [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Fingerprint

1. 1. An impression of the inked bulb of the distal phalanx of a finger, showing the configuration of the surface ridges, used as a means of identification. See: dermatoglyphics, Galton's system of classification of fingerprints. 2. Term, sometimes used informally, referring to any analytical method capable of making fine distinctions between similar compounds or gel patterns; e.g., the pattern of an infrared absorption curve or of a two-dimensional paper chromatograph. 3. In genetics, the analysis of DNA fragments to determine the identity of an individual or the paternity of a child. Synonym: genetic fingerprint. (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Fingerprint

fingerpainted
fingerpainting
fingerpaints
fingerpick
fingerpicked
fingerpicking
fingerpickings
fingerpicks
fingerplay
fingerplays
fingerpointing
fingerpost
fingerposts
fingerprick
fingerpricks
fingerprint (current term)
fingerprint analysis
fingerprint expert
fingerprint man
fingerprint specialist
fingerprinted
fingerprinter
fingerprinters
fingerprinting
fingerprintings
fingerprints
fingerroot
fingers
fingers crossed

Literary usage of Fingerprint

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science of Fingerprints: Classification and Uses (1988)
"fingerprint Files It is suggested that the fingerprint card be white, light cardboard, 8 by 8 inches, slightly glazed. This size is convenient as it allows ..."

2. Defending Secrets, Sharing Data: New Locks and Keys for Electronic Information (1993)
"fingerprints fingerprints have been used to identify individuals since the mid-1800s.48 Manual fingerprint identification systems were based on classifying ..."

3. Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow (2005)
"He could see the whorl of a fingerprint there, and narrow, nearly invisible cuticles. He touched the tip of his tongue to it and it seemed to him that he ..."

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