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thumb

 (thŭm)
n.
1.
a. The short thick digit of the human hand, next to the index finger and opposable to each of the other four digits.
b. A corresponding digit in other animals, especially primates. Also called pollex.
2. The part of a glove or mitten that covers the thumb.
3. Architecture An ovolo.
v. thumbed, thumb·ing, thumbs
v.tr.
1. To scan (written matter) by turning over pages with or as if with the thumb.
2. To disarrange, soil, or wear by careless or frequent handling.
3. Informal To solicit (a ride) from a passing vehicle by signaling with the thumb.
v.intr.
1. To scan written matter by turning over pages with or as if with the thumb: thumbed through the latest issue of the magazine.
2. Informal To hitchhike.
Idioms:
all thumbs
Lacking physical coordination, skill, or grace; clumsy.
thumb (one's) nose
To express scorn or ridicule, often by placing the thumb on the nose and wiggling the fingers.
under (someone's) thumb
Under the control of someone; subordinate to.

[Middle English, from Old English thūma; see teuə- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

thumb

(θʌm)
n
1. (Anatomy) the first and usually shortest and thickest of the digits of the hand, composed of two short bones. Technical name: pollex
2. (Zoology) the corresponding digit in other vertebrates
3. (Clothing & Fashion) the part of a glove shaped to fit the thumb
4. (Architecture) 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
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. (when: intr, often foll by through) 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
[Old English thūma; related to Old Saxon thūma, Old High German thūmo, Old Norse thumall thumb of a glove, Latin tumēre to swell]
ˈthumbless adj
ˈthumbˌlike adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

thumb

(θʌm)

n.
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.
v.t.
4. to soil or wear with the thumbs in handling, as the pages of a book.
5. to glance through (pages) (usu. fol. by through): to thumb through a brochure.
6. (of a hitchhiker) to solicit or get (a ride) by pointing the thumb in the desired direction of travel.
Idioms:
1. be all thumbs, to be clumsy.
2. thumb one's nose,
a. to raise the hand with fingers extended and touch the thumb to the nose as a gesture of scorn, defiance, etc.
b. to manifest defiance or contempt (usu. fol. by at): to thumb one's nose at convention.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English thūma, c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon thūma, Old High German dūmo; akin to Old Norse thumalfingr (compare thimble)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

thumb

- From Old English thuma, "thick, swollen."
See also related terms for thick.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

thumb


Past participle: thumbed
Gerund: thumbing

Imperative
thumb
thumb
Present
I thumb
you thumb
he/she/it thumbs
we thumb
you thumb
they thumb
Preterite
I thumbed
you thumbed
he/she/it thumbed
we thumbed
you thumbed
they thumbed
Present Continuous
I am thumbing
you are thumbing
he/she/it is thumbing
we are thumbing
you are thumbing
they are thumbing
Present Perfect
I have thumbed
you have thumbed
he/she/it has thumbed
we have thumbed
you have thumbed
they have thumbed
Past Continuous
I was thumbing
you were thumbing
he/she/it was thumbing
we were thumbing
you were thumbing
they were thumbing
Past Perfect
I had thumbed
you had thumbed
he/she/it had thumbed
we had thumbed
you had thumbed
they had thumbed
Future
I will thumb
you will thumb
he/she/it will thumb
we will thumb
you will thumb
they will thumb
Future Perfect
I will have thumbed
you will have thumbed
he/she/it will have thumbed
we will have thumbed
you will have thumbed
they will have thumbed
Future Continuous
I will be thumbing
you will be thumbing
he/she/it will be thumbing
we will be thumbing
you will be thumbing
they will be thumbing
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been thumbing
you have been thumbing
he/she/it has been thumbing
we have been thumbing
you have been thumbing
they have been thumbing
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been thumbing
you will have been thumbing
he/she/it will have been thumbing
we will have been thumbing
you will have been thumbing
they will have been thumbing
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been thumbing
you had been thumbing
he/she/it had been thumbing
we had been thumbing
you had been thumbing
they had been thumbing
Conditional
I would thumb
you would thumb
he/she/it would thumb
we would thumb
you would thumb
they would thumb
Past Conditional
I would have thumbed
you would have thumbed
he/she/it would have thumbed
we would have thumbed
you would have thumbed
they would have thumbed
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.thumb - the thick short innermost digit of the forelimbthumb - the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
musculus abductor pollicis - the abductor muscle of the thumb
finger - any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb); "her fingers were long and thin"
thumbnail - the nail of the thumb
2.thumb - the part of a glove that provides a covering for the thumb
covering - an artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it)
glove - handwear: covers the hand and wrist
3.thumb - a convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipsethumb - a convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipse
echinus - ovolo molding between the shaft and the abacus of a Doric column
moulding, molding - a decorative strip used for ornamentation or finishing
Verb1.thumb - travel by getting free rides from motorists
ride - be carried or travel on or in a vehicle; "I ride to work in a bus"; "He rides the subway downtown every day"
2.thumb - look through a book or other written material; "He thumbed through the report"; "She leafed through the volume"
peruse - examine or consider with attention and in detail; "Please peruse this report at your leisure"
3.thumb - feel or handle with the fingers; "finger the binding of the book"
touch - make physical contact with, come in contact with; "Touch the stone for good luck"; "She never touched her husband"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

thumb

noun
1. digit She bit her thumb, not looking at me.
verb
1. handle, finger, mark, soil, maul, mess up, dog-ear a well-thumbed copy of Who's Who
2. hitch, request (informal), signal for, hitchhike Thumbing a lift once had a carefree image.
all thumbs clumsy, inept, cack-handed (informal), maladroit, butterfingered (informal), ham-fisted (informal) Can you open this? I'm all thumbs.
thumb through something flick through, browse through, leaf through, glance at, turn over, flip through, skim through, riffle through, scan the pages of, run your eye over He had the drawer open and was thumbing through files.
thumbs down disapproval, refusal, rejection, no, rebuff, negation Brokers have given the firm the thumbs down.
thumbs up approval, go-ahead (informal), acceptance, yes, encouragement, green light, affirmation, O.K. or okay (informal) The film got a general thumbs up from the critics.
Related words
technical name pollex
adjective pollicical
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

thumb

verb
To look through reading matter casually.Also used with through:
browse, dip into, flip through, glance at (or over) (or through), leaf (through), riffle (through), run through, scan, skim.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إبهامإبْهامإبْهام القَفّازإِبْهامُ الْيَديُقَلِّب بالإبْهام
палец
polze
paleclistovat
tommelfingertommeltotblade hurtigt igennemtommel
dikfingropolekso
pöial
ابهام
peukalo
अंगूठा
palac
hüvelykujjátlapoz
pollice
ibu jari
flettaòumall, òumalfinguròumlungurþumalfingurþumall
親指
엄지손가락엄지
pollex
nykščio atspaudasnykščio nagasnykštyspo kieno nors padupritarimo/palaikymo ženklas
īkšķispāršķirstīt
tommeltommeskrue
polegardedo polegar
deget mare
palec
palec
palacпалац
tumme
kidole gumba
นิ้วโป้งหัวแม่มือ
baş parmakbaşparmakeldiven baş parmağısayfaları karıştırmak
полекс
ngón tay cái

thumb

[θʌm]
A. Npulgar m
he gave me a thumbs-up signme indicó con el pulgar que todo iba bien
to be all thumbs I'm all thumbs todayhoy soy un manazas
to twiddle one's thumbsestar mano sobre mano, estar sin hacer nada
to be under sb's thumbestar dominado por algn
she's got him under her thumble tiene metido en un puño
they gave it the thumbs downlo rechazaron, lo desaprobaron
they gave it the thumbs uplo aprobaron
the voters have given him the thumbs up/downel electorado votó a favor de/en contra de él
see also rule A2
B. VT
1. [+ book] → manosear
a well-thumbed bookun libro muy manoseado
2. to thumb a lift or a ridehacer autostop, hacer dedo, pedir aventón (LAm)
to thumb a lift to Londonviajar en autostop a Londres
3. to thumb one's nose at sth/sb (lit) → hacer burla a algo/algn (agitando la mano con el pulgar sobre la nariz) (fig) → burlarse de algo/algn
C. VI to thumb through a book/magazinehojear un libro/una revista
D. CPD thumb index Níndice m recortado
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

thumb

[ˈθʌm]
n
(= part of body) → pouce m
(= sign with thumbs) to give sb the thumbs up → lever le pouce en direction de qn
to give sth the thumbs up, to give the thumbs up to sth (= approve) → réagir favorablement à qch
to give sb the thumbs down (= refuse permission) → refuser de donner le feu vert à qn
to give sth the thumbs down (= reject) → rejeter qch
Why do you always give my ideas the thumbs down? → Pourquoi rejetez-vous toujours mes idées?
to get the thumbs up from sb [person] (= get permission) → recevoir le feu vert de qn; [proposal, idea] (= be welcomed) → obtenir une réaction favorable de qn
It more or less gets the thumbs up from everyone
BUT À peu près tout le monde y a réagi favorablement.
to stick out like a sore thumb (= be conspicuous) → ne pas passer inaperçu(e)
to be twiddling one's thumbs → se tourner les pouces
to be under sb's thumb → être sous la coupe de qn
vt (= hitch-hike) to thumb a lift → faire du stop
thumb through
vt (book)feuilleterthumb index nrépertoire m, répertoire m à onglets
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

thumb

nDaumen m; to be under somebody’s thumbunter jds Pantoffel (dat)or Fuchtel (dat)stehen; she has him under her thumbsie hat ihn unter ihrer Fuchtel; to be all thumbszwei linke Hände haben; he gave me the thumbs up/downer gab mir zu verstehen, dass alles in Ordnung war/dass es nicht in Ordnung war; the idea was given the thumbs up/downfür den Vorschlag wurde grünes/rotes Licht gegeben; it sticks out like a sore thumbdas springt einem direkt ins Auge; he sticks out like a sore thumb (= doesn’t fit in)er ist auffallend anders
vt
(inf) to thumb a ride or liftper Anhalter fahren; let’s thumb a lift with this lorrywir wollen versuchen, diesen Lastwagen anzuhalten
to thumb one’s nose at somebody/somethingjdm/einer Sache eine lange Nase machen; (fig)auf jdn/etw pfeifen
a well thumbed bookein Buch mit abgegriffenen Seiten

thumb

:
thumb index
nDaumenregister nt, → Daumenindex m
thumbnail
nDaumennagel m
(Comput) → Miniaturansicht f
thumbnail sketch
n (= drawing)kleine Skizze; (= description)kurze Skizze, kurze Zusammenfassung
thumbprint
thumbscrew
n (Tech) → Flügelschraube f; (torture) → Daumenschraube f; to put the thumbs on somebody (fig)jdm die Daumenschrauben anlegen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

thumb

[θʌm]
1. n (Anat) → pollice m
to be under sb's thumb (fig) → essere succube di qn
to be all thumbs (fig) (fam) → essere maldestro/a
to give sb/sth the thumbs up (fam) (sign) → far segno di essere d'accordo con qn/qc (approve) → dare l'okay a qn/qc
to give sth the thumbs down (fam) → disapprovare or bocciare qc
2. vt (book) → sfogliare
to thumb a lift or a ride (fam) → fare l'autostop
to thumb one's nose at sb → fare marameo a qn
to thumb one's nose at sb/sth (fig) (fam) → beffarsi di qn/qc
3. vi to thumb through a book/magazinesfogliare un libro/una rivista
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

thumb

(θam) noun
1. the short thick finger of the hand, set at a different angle from the other four.
2. the part of a glove or mitten covering this finger.
verb
(often with through) to turn over (the pages of a book) with the thumb or fingers. She was thumbing through the dictionary.
ˈthumb-nail noun
the nail on the thumb.
ˈthumbprint noun
a mark made by pressing the thumb on to a surface, sometimes used as means of identification.
ˌthumbs-ˈup noun
a sign expressing a wish for good luck, success etc. He gave me the thumbs-up.
ˈthumbtack noun
(American) a drawing-pin. She hung the picture on the wall with thumbtacks.
under someone's thumb
controlled or greatly influenced by someone. She is completely under her husband's thumb.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

thumb

إِبْهامُ الْيَد palec tommelfinger Daumen αντίχειρας pulgar peukalo pouce palac pollice 親指 엄지손가락 duim tommel kciuk polegar большой палец руки tumme นิ้วโป้ง baş parmak ngón tay cái 拇指
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

thumb

n. dedo pulgar;
___ suckingchuparse el dedo pulgar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

thumb

n dedo pulgar (de la mano), pulgar m (de la mano)
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
Then she lifted both hands, with all the fingers and thumbs spread out, and cried:
what do you know against him?" said the Rector laying down his reels, and putting his thumbs into his armholes with an air of attention.
Bleeding Heart Yard had been harrowed by Mr Pancks, and cropped by Mr Casby, at the regular seasons; Mr Pancks had taken all the drudgery and all the dirt of the business as his share; Mr Casby had taken all the profits, all the ethereal vapour, and all the moonshine, as his share; and, in the form of words which that benevolent beamer generally employed on Saturday evenings, when he twirled his fat thumbs after striking the week's balance, 'everything had been satisfactory to all parties--all parties--satisfactory, sir, to all parties.'
Two thumbs pressed into his neck on either side of the windpipe directly on the carotid arteries, shutting off the blood to his brain and giving him most exquisite agony, at the same time rendering him unconscious far more swiftly than the swiftest anaesthetic.
"Our business is with the Scots," quoth the elder; "for it was the Scots who cut off daddy's string fingers and his thumbs."
To be Mary-Annish is to behave like a girl, whimpering because nurse won't carry you, or simpering with your thumb in your mouth, and it is a hateful quality, but to be mad- dog is to kick out at everything, and there is some satisfaction in that.
The Wizard reached out, caught the wee creature in his hand, and holding its head between one thumb and finger and its tail between the other thumb and finger he pulled it apart, each of the two parts becoming a whole and separate piglet in an instant.
I was eight or nine, in velveteen, diamond socks ('Cross your legs when they look at you,' my mother had said, 'and put your thumb in your pocket and leave the top of your handkerchief showing'), and I had travelled by rail to visit a relative.
Tom Thumb put out his head for a moment, and then popped it in again.
Take your thumb out of your mouth and come to ride with Becky in your go-cart." She stretched out her strong young arms to the crowing baby, sat down in a chair with the child, turned her upside down unceremoniously, took from her waistband and scornfully flung away a crooked pin, walked with her (still in a highly reversed position) to the bureau, selected a large safety pin, and proceeded to attach her brief red flannel petticoat to a sort of shirt that she wore.
At that time he was a mere puppy, soft from the making, without form, ready for the thumb of circumstance to begin its work upon him.
If it were ever so small--nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb--I should be very happy, and love it dearly.' Now--odd as you may think it--it came to pass that this good woman's wish was fulfilled, just in the very way she had wished it; for, not long afterwards, she had a little boy, who was quite healthy and strong, but was not much bigger than my thumb. So they said, 'Well, we cannot say we have not got what we wished for, and, little as he is, we will love him dearly.' And they called him Thomas Thumb.