I. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: finger (I) + print
: the impression of a fingertip on any surface (as upon glass or polished metal) ; especially : an impression of the lines upon the finger taken in ink for purpose of identification
[s]fingerpr.jpg[/s] [
fingerprint 1: 1 arch, 2 loop, 3 whorl, 4 composite
]
II. transitive verb
: to take fingerprints of
hustled him into the sheriff's office, where he was fingerprinted … and locked in the bullpen to await bond — H.H.Martin
III. noun
: something that identifies: as
a. : a distinguishing trait or characteristic often indicating origin
b. : analytical evidence (as a spectrogram) that characterizes an object or substance ; especially : the chromatogram or electrophoretogram obtained by cleaving a protein by enzymatic action and subjecting the resulting collection of peptides to two-dimensional chromatography or electrophoresis
c. : the base-pair pattern in an individual's DNA obtained by DNA fingerprinting
IV. transitive verb
: to analyze (as spectrographically or chromatographically) in order to determine uniquely the identifying characteristics, origin, or constitution