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1. Dictionary

   Thumb

   /THəm/

   

   noun

   • 1. the short, thick first digit of the human hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them.
   • ▪ the corresponding digit of primates or other mammals.
   • ▪ the part of a glove intended to cover the thumb.

   verb

   • 1. press, move, or touch (something) with one's thumb: "as soon as she thumbed the button, the door slid open" Similar presspush (down)depresslean on
   • ▪ turn over (pages) with or as if with one's thumb: "I've thumbed my address book and found quite a range of smaller hotels" Similar leafflickflipskimbrowseglancelookrifflereadscandip intorun one's eye overhave a look atperuse
   • ▪ wear or soil (a book's pages) by repeated handling: "his dictionaries were thumbed and ink-stained"
   • ▪ request or obtain (a free ride in a passing vehicle) by signaling with one's thumb: "three cars passed me and I tried to thumb a ride" Similar hitchhikeask forrequestsignal forgetobtaininformal:hitchhitch a lift

   Word Origin Old Englishthūma, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch duim and German Daumen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin tumere ‘to swell’. The verb dates from the late 16th century, first in the sense ‘play (a musical instrument) with the thumbs’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. thumbless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • T

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   • H

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   • U

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   • M

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   • B

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › thumbThumb Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › thumb

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   Learn the meaning, synonyms, examples, and history of the word thumb, the short thick digit of the human hand. Find out how to use thumb as a noun and a verb, and explore related phrases and expressions.

3. People also ask

   What does thumb mean?

   • Get Word of the Day daily email! The meaning of THUMB is the short thick digit of the human hand that is analogous in position to the big toe and differs from the other fingers in having only two phalanges, allowing greater freedom of movement, and being opposable to each of them; also : a corresponding digit in lower animals.

   Thumb Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   What does thumb up mean?

   • 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. It was possible to pinch your thumb and forefinger together for a button press or rub the two fingers together to spin a dial.

   THUMB Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   Why do humans have thumbs?

   • Thumbs help us grip objects with care and precision — it would be difficult to hold chopsticks without a thumb. Humans are more dextrous than our closest primate relatives because of our nimble thumbs. They're opposable, so we can move them forward and touch them to our fingers.

   Thumb - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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4. www.dictionary.com › browse › thumbTHUMB Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the word thumb, the short, thick, inner digit of the human hand. Find out how to express approval, disapproval, or defiance with thumb gestures and phrases.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishTHUMB | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of thumb as a noun and a verb, and how to use it in different contexts and expressions. Find out the origin, pronunciation and translations of thumb in various languages.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › thumbThumb - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › thumb

   Your thumb is the fifth digit on your hand, the one that doesn't quite match your fingers. Thumbs help us grip objects with care and precision — it would be difficult to hold chopsticks without a thumb.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryTHUMB | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   Learn the meaning of thumb as a noun and a verb, and see how to use it in different contexts and expressions. Find out the pronunciation, collocations and translations of thumb in English.

8. Videos

   • 

     4:32

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     Common Conditions Of The Thumb - Everything You Need To Know - Dr. Nabil Ebraheim

     Oct 7, 2011

     1.3M Views

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     merriam-webster.com

     Definition of THUMB

     Jan 27, 2010

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     5:18

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     Motions Of The Thumb - Everything You Need To Know - Dr. Nabil Ebraheim

     Oct 27, 2017

     138.7K Views

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9. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishTHUMB definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and usage of the word 'thumb' in British and American English. Find out the synonyms, idioms, and related terms of 'thumb' with examples and translations.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionthumb noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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    a practical method of doing or measuring something, usually based on past experience rather than on exact measurement. As a rule of thumb, you should cook a chicken for 20 minutes for each pound of weight.