fingering

[ fing-ger-ing ]

/ ˈfɪŋ gər ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR fingering ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person who fingers.

Music.

the action or method of using the fingers in playing on an instrument.
the indication of the way the fingers are to be used in performing a piece of music.

Origin of fingering

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at finger, -ing¹

Words nearby fingering

fingerboard, fingerbreadth, fingered, fingerflower, fingerfuck, fingering, fingerling, fingermark, fingernail, fingerpick, fingerprint

Definition for fingering (2 of 2)

finger

[ fing-ger ]

/ ˈfɪŋ gər /

noun

any of the terminal members of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.

a part of a glove made to receive a finger.

the breadth of a finger as a unit of measurement; digit.

the length of a finger: approximately 4½ inches (11 cm).

Slang. an informer or spy.

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.

any of various projecting parts of machines.

verb (used with object)

to touch with the fingers; toy or meddle with; handle.

to touch with the fingers so as to mar or spoil: Please don't finger the vegetables.

to pilfer; filch.

Music.

to play on (an instrument) with the fingers.
to perform or mark (a passage of music) with a certain fingering.

Slang.

to inform against or identify (a criminal) to the authorities: He fingered the man who robbed the bank.
to designate as a victim, as of murder or other crime.

verb (used without object)

to touch or handle something with the fingers.

to extend in or as in the shape of a finger: Landing piers finger out into the river along the city's shoreline.

Origin of finger

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

OTHER WORDS FROM finger

fin·ger·er, noun fin·ger·less, adjective re·fin·ger, verb

Example sentences from the Web for fingering

He also lashed out at Curtis and his attorneys for fingering him.

Paul Kevin Curtis and J. Everett Dutschke: Epic Feud and Ricin Letters |Winston Ross |April 25, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
In politics, the flip-flopper label is deemed deadly, the fingering of a candidate with no fixed principles.

Romney’s Secret Signals May Convince Voters He’s Truly Center-Right |Howard Kurtz |April 18, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
That, she says, is why she lied about being at the crime scene and fingering Lumumba.

Amanda Knox's Parents Slander Trial |Barbie Latza Nadeau |February 16, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
Reached by phone, Moynihan was coy about fingering specific people as models for his characters.

The Art World's Devil Wears Prada |James Reginato |May 13, 2010 |DAILY BEAST

Fingering the mesh netting that allows a woman wearing a burka to see, she looked grim.

Kidman's New Cause |Tim Fernholz |October 21, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
Im sure Id rather march, and, if it came to that, die in fingering than in wheeling.

Adrienne Toner |Anne Douglas Sedgwick
She is fingering it in an uncertain, frightened way when the servant returns.

Dramatic Technique |George Pierce Baker
And as this little lady stood, fingering her wand and looking lovingly and laughingly at Cinderella, the girl knew not what to do.

Edmund Dulac's Picture-Book for the French Red Cross |Edmund Dulac
He arrived by taxi, red-faced, fingering the butt of his holstered service automatic.

And Then the Town Took Off |Richard Wilson
"He is de nicest," said Katrina, lingering before his statue, and reaching up and fingering the bronze curiously.

Glimpses of Three Coasts |Helen Hunt Jackson

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (1 of 3)

fingering ¹

/ (ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ) /

noun

the technique or art of using one's fingers in playing a musical instrument, esp the piano

the numerals in a musical part indicating this

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (2 of 3)

fingering ²

/ (ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ) /

noun

fine wool for knitting

Word Origin for fingering

C17: from earlier fingram, perhaps from Old French fin grain fine grain

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (3 of 3)

finger

/ (ˈfɪŋɡə) /

noun

any of the digits of the hand, often excluding the thumbTechnical name: digitus manus
(as modifier)a finger bowl
(in combination)a fingernail Related adjective: digital

the part of a glove made to cover a finger

something that resembles a finger in shape or function a finger of land

Also called: digit the length or width of a finger used as a unit of measurement

a quantity of liquid in a glass, etc, as deep as a finger is wide; tot

a projecting machine part, esp one serving as an indicator, guide, or guard

burn one's fingers to suffer from having meddled or been rash

get one's finger out or pull one's finger out British informal to begin or speed up activity, esp after initial delay or slackness

have a finger in the pie or have one's finger in the pie

to have an interest in or take part in some activity
to meddle or interfere

lay a finger on (usually negative) to harm

lay one's finger on or put one's finger on to indicate, identify, or locate accurately

let slip through one's fingers to allow to escape; miss narrowly

not lift a finger or not raise a finger (foll by an infinitive) not to make any effort (to do something)

point the finger at to accuse or blame

put the finger on informal

to inform on or identify, esp for the police
to choose (the victim or location of an intended crime)

twist around one's little finger or wrap around one's little finger to have easy and complete control or influence over

verb

(tr) to touch or manipulate with the fingers; handle

(tr) informal, mainly US to identify as a criminal or suspect

(intr) to extend like a finger

to use one's fingers in playing (an instrument, such as a piano or clarinet)

to indicate on (a composition or part) the fingering required by a pianist, harpsichordist, etc

(tr; usually passive) to arrange the keys of (a clarinet, flute, etc) for playing in a certain way

Derived forms of finger

fingerer, noun fingerless, adjective

Word Origin for finger

Old English; related to Old Norse fingr, Gothic figgrs, Old High German fingar; see five, fist

Medical definitions for fingering

finger

[ fĭng′gər ]

n.

One of the five digits of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.

Idioms and Phrases with fingering

finger

In addition to the idiom beginning with finger

finger in the pie, have a

also see:

at one's fingertips
burn one's fingers
cross one's fingers
give someone the finger
lay a finger on
let slip (through the fingers)
not lift a finger
point the finger at
put one's finger on
put the finger on
snap one's fingers at
sticky fingers
twist around one's finger
work one's fingers to the bone

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

fingering

noun

Origin of fingering

Words nearby fingering

Definition for fingering (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of finger

OTHER WORDS FROM finger

Example sentences from the Web for fingering

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (1 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (2 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for fingering

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (3 of 3)

noun

verb

Derived forms of finger

Word Origin for finger

Medical definitions for fingering

n.

Idioms and Phrases with fingering

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

fingering

noun

Origin of fingering

Words nearby fingering

Definition for fingering (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of finger

OTHER WORDS FROM finger

Words related to fingering

Example sentences from the Web for fingering

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (1 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (2 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for fingering

British Dictionary definitions for fingering (3 of 3)

noun

verb

Derived forms of finger

Word Origin for finger

Medical definitions for fingering

n.

Idioms and Phrases with fingering