How do you use the word "thumb" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "thumb": The glove has a hole in the thumb. I pricked my thumb with a needle.

Thumb Meaning

/ˈθʌm/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounThe shortest and thickest digit of the hand that for humans has the most mobility and can be made to oppose (moved to touch) all of the other fingers.

nounThe part of a slider that may be moved linearly along the slider.

Sentence Examples

The glove has a hole in the thumb.

I pricked my thumb with a needle.

She still sucks her thumb when she's worried.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

leaf finger flip

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

He accidentally hit his ____ with a heavy hammer while fixing the shelf.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

He accidentally hit his ____ with the hammer while he was trying to fix the small wooden fence today.

Word Origin & History

Derived from Middle English thombe, thoume, thoumbe (“thumb”), from Old English þūma (“thumb”), from Proto-West Germanic *þūmō (“thumb”), from Proto-Germanic *þūmô (“thumb”), from Proto-Indo-European *tūm- (“to grow”). Cognate with West Frisian tomme (“thumb”), Dutch duim (“thumb”), Low German Duum (“thumb”), German Daumen (“thumb”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk tomme (“inch”), Norn tum (“thumb”), Swedish tumme (“thumb”), tum (“inch”), Russian дюйм (djujm, “inch”), Ancient Greek τύμβος (túmbos, “burial mound”). Also compare Welsh tyfu (“to grow”), Latin tumēre (“to swell”), Lithuanian tumėti (“to thicken, clot”), Avestan 𐬀𐬨𐬏𐬙 (amūt, “strong”), Sanskrit तुम्र (túmra, “strong, thick”). The parasitic ‐b has existed since the late 13th century. Doublet of tomb.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"News agencies reported Lavrov had been sent to hospital for a checkup, only for the Russian foreign ministry to rush out a picture of Lavrov in shorts, sporting an Apple watch and Jean-Michel Basquiat-inspired T-shirt, thumbing his notes for his first address at the summit on Tuesday." — 2022 November 15, Patrick Wintour, “Sergei Lavrov, a fixture of Russian diplomacy facing his toughest test in Ukraine”, in The Guardian:

"It is also disconcerting when you suddenly realise that the driver isn't steering, but may be thumbing over his Customs papers with his feet up." — 1948 March and April, “Notes and News: Lines in County Donegal”, in Railway Magazine, page 129:

"Oh, look! There’s a car coming! Thumb-no, wave. They probably don’t understand thumbing." — 1977, Diana Wynne Jones, Charmed Life:

"Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained." — 1969, Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, Me and Bobby McGee:

"Thumbed a diesel down, outside a cafe." — 1980, Kye Fleming, Dennis Morgan, Smoky Mountain Rain:

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