Thumb

Pronunciation

• IPA: /θʌm/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒm

Origin

From Middle English thoume, thoumbe, from Old English þūma, from Proto-Germanic *þūmô (cf. West Frisian tomme, Dutch duim, Low German Dumen, German Daumen, Danish tomme, Swedish tumme), from Proto-Indo-European *tūm- ("to grow") (cf. Welsh tyfu ("to grow"), Latin tumēre ("to swell"), Albanian thumb ("a sting, protuberance"), Lithuanian tumėti ("to thicken, clot"), Ancient Greek týmbos 'burial mound', Avestan tūma 'strong', Sanskrit túmras 'strong, thick').

Full definition of thumb

Noun

1. 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.
2. (computing) The part of a slider that may be moved linearly along the slider.
3. (colloquial, internet) A thumbnail picture.
• 2001, "Gary", Wanna See Porn? Take a Look At These (Free Expandable Thumbs) - CLICK HERE (on newsgroup alt.sex.services)

Synonyms

• (digit) pollex, digit I, first digit (anatomy) ; thumby colloquial

Hypernyms

• (digit) digit, finger

Hyponyms

• (digit) opposable thumb

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To touch or cover with the thumb.to thumb the touch-hole of a cannon
2. (transitive, with through) To turn the pages of (a book) in order to read it cursorily.I thumbed through the book and decided not to bother reading it all.
3. (travel) To hitchhikeSo I started thumbin' back east, toward my hometown.
4. To soil or wear with the thumb or the fingers; to soil, or wear out, by frequent handling.
• MacaulayHe gravely informed the enemy that all his cards had been thumbed to pieces, and begged them to let him have a few more packs.

Synonyms

• (to turn pages) browse, leaf, page, peruse

Derived terms