Lexic.us

Definition of Thumb

1. Noun. The thick short innermost digit of the forelimb.

2. Verb. Travel by getting free rides from motorists.

3. Noun. The part of a glove that provides a covering for the thumb.

4. Verb. Look through a book or other written material. "The customs agents thumb the bags for drugs "; "She leafed through the volume"

5. Noun. A convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipse.

6. Verb. Feel or handle with the fingers. "Finger the binding of the book"

Definition of Thumb

1. n. The short, thick first digit of the human hand, differing from the other fingers in having but two phalanges; the pollex. See Pollex.

2. v. t. To handle awkwardly.

3. v. i. To play with the thumb or thumbs; to play clumsily; to thrum.

Definition of Thumb

1. Noun. The short thick digit of the hand that for humans has the most mobility and can be made to oppose (moved to touch) all of the other fingers. ¹

2. Noun. (computing) The part of a slider that may be moved linearly along the slider. ¹

3. Noun. (colloquial) A thumbnail picture. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To touch with the '''thumb'''. ¹

5. Verb. (transitive with '''through''') To turn the pages of (a book) in order to read it cursorily. ¹

6. Verb. (travel) To hitchhike ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Thumb

1. to leaf through with the thumb (the short, thick digit of the human hand) [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Thumb

1. The first digit on the radial side of the hand. Synonym: digitus primus, pollex, first finger. Origin: A.S. Thuma (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Thumb

thuja thuja oil thujas thujin thujol thujone thujones thulia thulian thulias

thulite thulites thulium thuliums thumb (current term) thumb-sketch thumb-sketches thumb a lift thumb a ride thumb drive

thumb drives thumb forceps thumb fractures thumb index thumb knot thumb lancet thumb one's nose thumb position thumb positions

Literary usage of Thumb

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

1. Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain (1883)
"I painted the ball of the client's thumb, took a print of it on the paper, studied it that night, and revealed his fortune to him next day. ..."

2. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, Or Origin of by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (1898)
"thumb. When a gladiator was van- V It is not correct to say, if they wished t lie man to Uve they held their thumbs downward» ; if to be slain, ..."

3. The American Journal of Psychology by Granville Stanley Hall, Edward Bradford Titchener (1920)
"The pressures come on forefinger and at base of thumb. ... Pressure on thumb and ball of thumb. Constant sensations in other fingers" (Co). (3—5+). ..."

4. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (2001)
"Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? 40 Sam. Is the law of our side, ... No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir ; but I bite my thumb, sir. Gre. ..."

5. Household Stories, from the Collection of the Bros: Grimm by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm (1883)
"Yes," answered his wife, and sighed, " if we could only have one, and that one ever so little, no bigger than my thumb, how happy I should be ! ..."

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