/ ˈfɪŋgə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
one of the four long thin parts that stick out from the hand (or five, if the thumb is included) :
She ran her fingers through her hair.
Hold the material between finger and thumb.
He was about to speak but she raised a finger to her lips.
—see also butterfingers , forefinger , green fingers , index finger , little finger , middle finger , ring finger
2.
-fingered (in adjectives) having the type of fingers mentioned; having or using the number of fingers mentioned :
long-fingered
nimble-fingered
a four-fingered chord
—see also light-fingered
3.
the part of a glove that covers the finger
4.
finger (of sth) a long narrow piece of bread, cake, land, etc. :
a finger of toast
chocolate fingers
—see also fish finger
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IDIOMS
- the finger of suspicion
- get, pull, etc. your finger out
- give sb the finger
- have a finger in every pie
- have, etc. your fingers in the till
- have / keep your finger on the pulse (of sth)
- lay a finger on sb
- not put your finger on sth
- put / stick two fingers up at sb
- work your fingers to the bone
—more at burn verb , count verb , cross verb , lift verb , point verb , slip verb , snap verb , sticky , thumb noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to touch or feel sth with your fingers :
Gary sat fingering his beard, saying nothing.
2.
finger sb (for sth) | finger sb (as sth) ( informal , especially NAmE ) to accuse sb of doing sth illegal and tell the police about it :
Who fingered him for the burglaries?
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vinger and German Finger .