θʌm n. & v. --n. 1 a a
short thick terminal projection on
the human hand, set lower
and apart from the
other four and
opposable to
them. b a
digit of other animals corresponding to
this. 2
part of a
glove etc.
for a thumb. --v. 1 tr. wear or soil (pages etc.)
with a thumb (a well-thumbed book). 2 intr.
turn over pages with or as with a thumb (thumbed
through the directory). 3 tr.
request or
obtain (a
lift in a
passing vehicle) by signalling with a raised thumb. 4 tr.
use the thumb in a
gesture. øbe
all thumbs be
clumsy with one's hands. thumb
index n. a set of
lettered grooves
cut down the
side of a
diary,
dictionary, etc. for
easy reference. --v.tr.
provide (a
book etc.) with
these. thumb one's
nose = cock a snook (see SNOOK(1)). thumb-nut a
nut shaped for
turning with the thumb and
forefinger. thumbs down an
indication of rejection or
failure. thumbs up an indication of
satisfaction or
approval.
under a person's thumb completely dominated by a
person. øøthumbed adj. (also in comb.). thumbless adj. [OE thuma f. a WG root = swell]
