I. ˈthəm noun
Etymology: Middle English thoume, thoumbe, from Old English thūma; akin to Old High German thūmo thumb, Latin tumēre to swell
Date: before 12th century
1. : 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
2. : the part of a glove or mitten that covers the thumb
3. : a convex molding : ovolo
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- all thumbs
- under one's thumb
II. verb
Date: circa 1647
transitive verb
1.
a. : to leaf through (pages) with the thumb : turn
b. : to soil or wear by or as if by repeated thumbing
a badly thumb ed book
2. : to request or obtain (a ride) in a passing automobile by signaling with the thumb
intransitive verb
1. : to turn over pages
thumb through a book
2. : to travel by thumbing rides : hitchhike
thumb ed across the country
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- thumb one's nose