thumb Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
    pollex.
  2. noun the part of a glove that provides a covering for the thumb
  3. noun a convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipse
    ovolo; quarter round.
  4. verb travel by getting free rides from motorists
    hitchhike; hitch.
  5. verb look through a book or other written material
    flick; leaf; flip; riff; riffle.
    • He thumbed through the report
    • She leafed through the volume
  6. verb feel or handle with the fingers
    finger.
    • finger the binding of the book

WordNet

Thumb noun
Etymology
OE. thombe, thoumbe, ume, AS. ma; akin to OFries. thma, D. duim, G. daumen, OHG. dmo, Icel. umall, Dan. tommelfinger, Sw. tunne, and perhaps to L. tumere to swell. *56. Cf. Thimble, Tumid.
Definitions
  1. The short, thick first digit of the human hand, differing from the other fingers in having but two phalanges; the pollex. See Pollex.
    Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. Chaucer.
Thumb transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Thumbed ; present participle & verbal noun Thumbing
Definitions
  1. To handle awkwardly. Johnson.
  2. To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers; as, to thumb over a tune.
  3. To soil or wear with the thumb or the fingers; to soil, or wear out, by frequent handling; also, to cover with the thumb; as, to thumb the touch-hole of a cannon.
    He gravely informed the enemy that all his cards had been thumbed to pieces, and begged them to let him have a few more packs. Macaulay.
Thumb intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To play with the thumb or thumbs; to play clumsily; to thrum.

Webster 1913