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| thumb [ thum ] |
noun (plural thumbs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. thickest digit on human hand: the thickest digit of the human hand, located next to the forefinger. It can be moved to face and touch the other fingers so that objects can be grasped.
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2. animal's digit resembling human thumb: a short thick digit in some animals, e.g. in many primates, that is adapted for grasping and corresponds to the human thumb
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3. section of glove for thumb: the part of a glove or mitten that covers the thumb
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4. architecture
Same as ovolo
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verb (past and past participle thumbed, present participle thumb·ing, 3rd person present singular thumbs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb hitch ride: to obtain or try to obtain a ride by signaling with the thumb to passing drivers
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2. transitive verb make something dirty by use: to soil or cause wear on something, especially a book, by repeated handling
(
often passive
)
  a well-thumbed book
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3. transitive and intransitive verb flip through printed matter: to glance through the pages of a book or magazine
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| [ Old English þúma< Indo-European] |
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| thumb·less adjective |
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all thumbs extremely awkward or clumsy
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stick out like a sore thumb to be completely obvious, or conspicuously out of place
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twiddle your thumbs to be idle or unoccupied, especially involuntarily
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under somebody's thumb under the influence and control of somebody
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