Nearby Words
noun
1.
the short, thick, inner digit of the human hand, next to the forefinger.
2.
the corresponding digit in other animals; pollex.
3.
the part of a glove or mitten for containing this digit.
4.
Architecture. an ovolo or echinus molding.
verb (used with object)
5.
to soil or wear with the thumbs in handling, as the pages of a book.
6.
to glance through (the pages of a book, leaflet, etc.) quickly.
7.
to play (a guitar or other instrument) with or as with the thumbs.
8.
(of a hitchhiker) to solicit or get (a ride) by pointing the thumb in the desired direction of travel.
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Thumbless
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
9.
all thumbs, awkward; clumsy; bungling: The visitor almost knocked over a vase and seemed to be all thumbs.
10.
thumb one's nose,
a.
to put one's thumb to one's nose and extend the fingers as a crudely defiant or contemptuous gesture.
b.
to express defiance or contempt; dismiss or reject contemptuously.
11.
thumbs down, a gesture or expression of dissent or disapproval: We turned thumbs down to that suggestion.
12.
thumbs up, a gesture or expression of assent or approval.
13.
under one's thumb, under the power or influence of; subordinate to. Also, under the thumb of.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English thūma; cognate with Dutch duim, Old Saxon, Old High German dūmo (German Daumen), Old Norse thumall; akin to Latin tumēre to swell (tumor)
before 900; Middle English; Old English thūma; cognate with Dutch duim, Old Saxon, Old High German dūmo (German Daumen), Old Norse thumall; akin to Latin tumēre to swell (tumor)
Related forms
thumb·less, adjective
thumb·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To thumbless
Collins
World English Dictionary
| thumb (θʌm) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | Technical name: pollex the first and usually shortest and thickest of the digits of the hand, composed of two short bonesRelated: pollical |
| 2. | the corresponding digit in other vertebrates |
| 3. | the part of a glove shaped to fit the thumb |
| 4. | architect another name for ovolo |
| 5. | all thumbs clumsy |
| 6. | thumbs down an indication of refusal, disapproval, or negation: he gave the thumbs down on our proposal |
| 7. | thumbs up an indication of encouragement, approval, or acceptance |
| 8. | under someone's thumb at someone's mercy or command |
| —vb (when intr, | |
| 9. | (tr) to touch, mark, or move with the thumb |
| 10. | to attempt to obtain (a lift or ride) by signalling with the thumb |
| 11. | to flip the pages of (a book, magazine, etc) perfunctorily in order to glance at the contents |
| 12. | thumb one's nose at to deride or mock, esp by placing the thumb on the nose with fingers extended |
| Related: pollical | |
| [Old English thūma; related to Old Saxon thūma, Old High German thūmo, Old Norse thumall thumb of a glove, Latin tumēre to swell] | |
| 'thumbless | |
| —adj | |
| 'thumblike | |
| —adj | |
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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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
thumb
O.E. þuma, from W.Gmc. *thumon- (cf. O.Fris. thuma, O.S., O.H.G. thumo, Ger. Daumen, Du. duim "thumb," O.N. þumall "thumb of a glove"), lit. "the stout or thick (finger)," from PIE *tum- "swell" (cf. L. tumere "to swell," tumidus "swollen;" Avestan tuma "fat;" see
EXPAND thigh). For spelling with -b (attested from c.1290), see limb. The verb meaning "to go through" (especially of printed material) is first found 1930, though the related sense of "soil or wear by handling" dates from 1644. Verb meaning "to hitchhike" is 1939, originally the thumb pointed in the direction one wished to travel. Thumbnail sketch (1852) so called for its smallness. To be under (someone's) thumb "be totally controlled by that person" is recorded from 1586. Thumbs up (1887) and thumbs down (1906) were said to be from expressions of approval or the opposite in ancient amphitheaters, especially gladiator shows, where the gesture decided whether a defeated combatant was spared or slain. But the Roman gesture was merely one of hiding the thumb in the hand or extending it. Perhaps the modern gesture is from the usual coachmen's way of greeting while the hands are occupied with the reins.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
thumb (thŭm)
n.
The short thick digit of the human hand, next to the index finger and opposable to each of the other four digits.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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