Nearby Words

fingering

[fing-ger-ing] Origin

fin·ger·ing

[fing-ger-ing]
noun
1.
the act of a person who fingers.
2.
Music.
a.
the action or method of using the fingers in playing on an instrument.
b.
the indication of the way the fingers are to be used in performing a piece of music.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English; see finger, -ing1

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Fingering is always a great word to know.
So is augmented chord. Does it mean:
rest equal in time value to a half note
chord which contains an augmented interval
Dictionary.com Unabridged

fin·ger

[fing-ger]
noun
1.
any of the terminal members of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.
2.
a part of a glove made to receive a finger.
3.
the breadth of a finger as a unit of measurement; digit.
4.
the length of a finger: approximately 41/2 inches (11 cm).
5.
Slang. an informer or spy.
EXPAND
6.
something like a finger in form or use, as a projection or pointer: a finger of land leading out into the bay; the finger on the speedometer.
7.
any of various projecting parts of machines.
COLLAPSE
verb (used with object)
8.
to touch with the fingers; toy or meddle with; handle.
9.
to touch with the fingers so as to mar or spoil: Please don't finger the vegetables.
10.
to pilfer; filch.
11.
Music.
a.
to play on (an instrument) with the fingers.
b.
to perform or mark (a passage of music) with a certain fingering.
12.
Slang.
a.
to inform against or identify (a criminal) to the authorities: He fingered the man who robbed the bank.
b.
to designate as a victim, as of murder or other crime.
verb (used without object)
13.
to touch or handle something with the fingers.
14.
to extend in or as in the shape of a finger: Landing piers finger out into the river along the city's shoreline.
15.
burn one's fingers, to suffer injury or loss by meddling or by acting rashly: If you get involved in the controversy, you may burn your fingers.
16.
give (someone) the finger, Slang. to express contempt for by or as by the obscene gesture of pointing the middle finger upward while folding the other fingers against the palm.
17.
have a finger in the pie,
a.
to have an interest or share in something.
b.
to meddle in something.
18.
keep one's fingers crossed, to wish for good luck or success, as in a specific endeavor: Keep your fingers crossed that I get the job.
19.
lay/put one's finger on,
a.
to indicate exactly; remember: I know the name, but I can't put my finger on it.
b.
to discover; locate: I haven't been able to lay my finger on the book you requested.
EXPAND
20.
not lift a finger, to make not even a small attempt; do nothing: The house was falling into ruin, but he wouldn't lift a finger to repair it.
21.
put the finger on, Slang. finger (def. 12).
22.
slip through one's fingers,
a.
to elude one, as an opportunity not taken; escape: She let the chance of a lifetime slip through her fingers.
b.
to pass or be consumed quickly: Money just slips through his fingers.
23.
snap one's fingers (at), to exhibit disdain or contempt (for): She snaps her fingers at the local gossip.
24.
twist/wrap around one's little finger, to exert one's influence easily or successfully upon: He has a remarkable talent for twisting people around his little finger.
COLLAPSE

Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German Finger, Dutch vinger, Old Norse fingr, Gothic figgrs

fin·ger·er, noun
fin·ger·less, adjective
re·fin·ger, verb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To fingering
Collins
World English Dictionary
fingering1 (ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ)
 
n
1.  the technique or art of using one's fingers in playing a musical instrument, esp the piano
2.  the numerals in a musical part indicating this

fingering2 (ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ)
 
n
fine wool for knitting
 
[C17: from earlier fingram, perhaps from Old French fin grain fine grain]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

finger
early 15c., to touch or point to with the finger (but cf. fingering from late 14c.), from finger (n.). The meaning "identify a criminal" is underworld slang first recorded 1930. Related: Fingered.
EXPAND

fingering
action of using the fingers in playing a musical instrument, late 14c., fyngerynge, from finger (n.).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

finger fin·ger (fĭng'gər)
n.
One of the five digits of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

finger definition


  1. tv.
    to point someone out; to identify someone (as having done something, been somewhere, etc.). : Pete fingered Marty as being the one who arrived first.
  2. n.
    someone who identifies criminals for the police; a police informer. (Underworld.) : Taylor has become a finger for the cops.
  3. n.
    an amount of liquor poured into a glass equal to the width of a finger. : Britney said she only drank one finger, but the glass was five inches in diameter!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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