thumb

[ thuhm ]

/ θʌm /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR thumb ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the short, thick, inner digit of the human hand, next to the forefinger.

the corresponding digit in other animals; pollex.

the part of a glove or mitten for containing this digit.

Architecture. an ovolo or echinus molding.

verb (used with object)

to soil or wear with the thumbs in handling, as the pages of a book.

to glance through (the pages of a book, leaflet, etc.) quickly.

to play (a guitar or other instrument) with or as with the thumbs.

(of a hitchhiker) to solicit or get (a ride) by pointing the thumb in the desired direction of travel.

Idioms for thumb

all thumbs, awkward; clumsy; bungling: The visitor almost knocked over a vase and seemed to be all thumbs.

thumb one's nose,

to put one's thumb to one's nose and extend the fingers as a crudely defiant or contemptuous gesture.
to express defiance or contempt; dismiss or reject contemptuously.

thumbs down, a gesture or expression of dissent or disapproval: We turned thumbs down to that suggestion.

thumbs up, a gesture or expression of assent or approval.

under one's thumb, under the power or influence of; subordinate to. Also under the thumb of.

Origin of thumb

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)

OTHER WORDS FROM thumb

thumb·less, adjective thumb·like, adjective

Words nearby thumb

thuggee, thuja, thule, thulia, thulium, thumb, thumb a ride, thumb drive, thumb forceps, thumb glass, thumb index

British Dictionary definitions for all thumbs

thumb

/ (θʌm) /

noun

the first and usually shortest and thickest of the digits of the hand, composed of two short bones Technical name: pollex Related adjective: pollical

the corresponding digit in other vertebrates

the part of a glove shaped to fit the thumb

architect another name for ovolo

all thumbs clumsy

thumbs down an indication of refusal, disapproval, or negation he gave the thumbs down on our proposal

thumbs up an indication of encouragement, approval, or acceptance

under someone's thumb at someone's mercy or command

verb

(tr) to touch, mark, or move with the thumb

to attempt to obtain (a lift or ride) by signalling with the thumb

(when intr, often foll by through) to flip the pages of (a book, magazine, etc) perfunctorily in order to glance at the contents

thumb one's nose at to deride or mock, esp by placing the thumb on the nose with fingers extended

Derived forms of thumb

thumbless, adjective thumblike, adjective

Word Origin for thumb

Old English thūma; related to Old Saxon thūma, Old High German thūmo, Old Norse thumall thumb of a glove, Latin tumēre to swell

Medical definitions for all thumbs

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.

Cultural definitions for all thumbs

all thumbs

Clumsy or awkward: “Where plumbing is concerned, Walter is all thumbs.”

Idioms and Phrases with all thumbs (1 of 2)

all thumbs

Physically awkward, especially with respect to the hands, as in When it comes to knitting, Mary is all thumbs. The notion of this idiom derives from a proverb in John Heywood's collection of 1546: “When he should get aught, each finger is a thumb.”

Idioms and Phrases with all thumbs (2 of 2)

thumb

In addition to the idioms beginning with thumb

thumb a ride
thumb one's nose
thumbs up

also see:

all thumbs
green thumb
rule of thumb
stick out (like a sore thumb)
twiddle one's thumbs
under someone's thumb

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

thumb

noun

verb (used with object)

Idioms for thumb

Origin of thumb

OTHER WORDS FROM thumb

Words nearby thumb

British Dictionary definitions for all thumbs

noun

verb

Derived forms of thumb

Word Origin for thumb

Medical definitions for all thumbs

n.

Cultural definitions for all thumbs

Idioms and Phrases with all thumbs (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with all thumbs (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

thumb

noun

verb (used with object)

Idioms for thumb

Origin of thumb

OTHER WORDS FROM thumb

Words nearby thumb

Words related to all thumbs

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noun

verb

Derived forms of thumb

Word Origin for thumb

Medical definitions for all thumbs

n.

Cultural definitions for all thumbs

Idioms and Phrases with all thumbs (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with all thumbs (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for all thumbs