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Meaning of thumb in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /θəm/

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  1. Verb

    thumb

    Definitions

    1. travel by getting free rides from motorists
  2. 2. look through a book or other written material

    Examples

    • « He thumbed through the report »
    • « She leafed through the volume »
  3. 3. feel or handle with the fingers

    Examples

    • « finger the binding of the book »
  4. Noun

    thumb

    Etymology

    Old English thūma, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch duim and German Daumen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin tumere‘to swell’. The verb dates from the late 16th century, first in the sense ‘play (a musical instrument) with the thumbs’

    Definitions

    1. the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
  5. 2. the part of a glove that provides a covering for the thumb
  6. 3. a convex molding having a cross section in the form of a quarter of a circle or of an ellipse

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