Library / English Dictionary

THUMB

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipse

Synonyms:

ovolo; quarter round; thumb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("thumb" is a kind of...):

molding; moulding (a decorative strip used for ornamentation or finishing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "thumb"):

echinus (ovolo molding between the shaft and the abacus of a Doric column)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The part of a glove that provides a covering for the thumb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("thumb" is a kind of...):

covering (an artifact that covers something else (usually to protect or shelter or conceal it))

Holonyms ("thumb" is a part of...):

glove (handwear: covers the hand and wrist)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The thick short innermost digit of the forelimb

Synonyms:

pollex; thumb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("thumb" is a kind of...):

finger (any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb))

Meronyms (parts of "thumb"):

musculus abductor pollicis (the abductor muscle of the thumb)

thumbnail (the nail of the thumb)

Derivation:

thumb (feel or handle with the fingers)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Feel or handle with the fingers

Example:

finger the binding of the book

Synonyms:

finger; thumb

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "thumb" is one way to...):

touch (make physical contact with, come in contact with)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

thumb (the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Travel by getting free rides from motorists

Synonyms:

hitch; hitchhike; thumb

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "thumb" is one way to...):

ride (be carried or travel on or in a vehicle)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Look through a book or other written material

Example:

She leafed through the volume

Synonyms:

flick; flip; leaf; riff; riffle; thumb

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "thumb" is one way to...):

peruse (examine or consider with attention and in detail)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Credits

 Context examples: 

At length he ventured to take me behind, by the middle, between his fore-finger and thumb, and brought me within three yards of his eyes, that he might behold my shape more perfectly.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

If it were ever so small—nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb—I should be very happy, and love it dearly.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Therefore I gave him one of my three bright shillings, which he received with much humility and veneration, and spun up with his thumb, directly afterwards, to try the goodness of.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"No, nor felt such thorns," returned Laurie, with his thumb in his mouth, after a vain attempt to capture a solitary scarlet flower that grew just beyond his reach.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A bone in the second finger from the radial side of the hand, next to the thumb

(Hand Digit 2 Phalanx, NCI Thesaurus)

The second finger from the radial side of the hand, next to the thumb.

(Hand Digit 2, NCI Thesaurus)

His finger and thumb closed on her pulse, as I thought instinctively and unconsciously, as she spoke:—The Count is a criminal and of criminal type.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He chewed Downing’s thumb nearly off before they could master him.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You use your fingers and thumbs to do everything from grasping objects to playing musical instruments to typing.

(Finger Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

A saddle-shaped synovial joint between the metacarpal of the thumb and the trapezium.

(Carpometacarpal Joint 1, NCI Thesaurus)