Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense fingerprints, present participle fingerprinting, past tense, past participle fingerprinted
1. countable noun [usually plural]
Fingerprints are marks made by a person's fingers which show the lines on the skin. Everyone's fingerprints are different, so they can be used to identify criminals.
The detective discovered no fewer than 35 fingerprints.
...his fingerprint on the murder weapon.
See take someone's fingerprints
2. verb [usually passive]
If someone is fingerprinted, the police take their fingerprints.
He took her to jail, where she was fingerprinted and booked. [beVERB-ed]
3. verb
If the police fingerprint an object, they put a layer of special dust on it so that any fingerprints that are on it can be seen.
Let's fingerprint the canoe, see if we come up with anything. [VERB noun]
fingerprint in British English
(ˈfɪŋɡəˌprɪnt)
noun
1.
an impression of the pattern of ridges on the palmar surface of the end joint of each finger and thumb
2.
any identifying characteristic
3. biochemistry
the pattern of fragments obtained when a protein is digested by a proteolytic enzyme, usually observed following two-dimensional separation by chromatography and electrophoresis
verb
4. (transitive)
to take an inked impression of the fingerprints of (a person)
5.
to take a sample of (a person's) DNA
fingerprint in American English
(ˈfɪŋgərˌprɪnt)
noun
1.
an impression of the lines and whorls on the inner surface of the end joint of the finger, used as by the police in the identification of a person
2.
any characteristic or set of characteristics that distinguishes or unambiguously identifies a person or thing; signature
verb transitive
3.
to take the fingerprints of
Examples of 'fingerprint' in a sentence
fingerprint
My fingerprints and iris patterns are held by at least three foreign powers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The new Touch Bar is spectacular and the convenience of the fingerprint sensor is useful.
The Sun (2016)
The group wants the government to introduce the same retention times for images that exist for DNA samples and fingerprints.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It means organised criminals will leave their fingerprints online.
The Sun (2014)
They use the fingerprint scanner to approve payment to a contactless point.
The Sun (2015)
Forensic officers dusted for fingerprints while two cops stood guard outside.
The Sun (2010)
That is where the fingerprints come in.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He was caught out after his fingerprints were taken by customs officials.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He refused to tell his name but was identified by a fingerprint test.
The Sun (2016)
Criminals could soon be caught by the fingerprints they leave on till and cash machine receipts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And he can now arrest you and take your fingerprints without a police officer being present.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The crackdown is likely to involve technology such as fingerprint scanners to verify ages and identities.
The Sun (2015)
He had his fingerprints and photo taken and faces having a criminal record.
The Sun (2007)
His looks had changed so drastically police could only identify him from fingerprints.
The Sun (2011)
They say each person's gait is almost as unique as a fingerprint.
The Sun (2006)
For example, the fingerprint sensor to keep the phone locked.
The Sun (2014)
Their gorgeous colouring is as unique as a fingerprint: no two dogs are the same.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Also, new chemical techniques mean fingerprints can now be lifted off anything from plastic bags to human skin.
Colin Beavan FINGERPRINTS: Murder and the Race to Uncover the Science of Identity (2002)
At a crime scene detectives search for fingerprints, dusting the area with aluminium powder to bring out ridge details.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
At trial he was acquitted and although solicitors sought the destruction of his fingerprints and samples, the police refused to comply.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
His fingerprints and DNA samples were taken.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
POLICE paid 840 to an asthmatic employee who suffered coughing and wheezing after inhaling fingerprint dust.
The Sun (2014)
Efforts to identify him using fingerprints and DNA tests have failed.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The general fingerprint patterns of twins, for example, were often identical.
Colin Beavan FINGERPRINTS: Murder and the Race to Uncover the Science of Identity (2002)
In other languages
fingerprint
British English: fingerprint /ˈfɪŋɡəˌprɪnt/ NOUN
Fingerprints are marks made by a person's fingers which show the lines on the skin. Everyone's fingerprints are different, so they can be used to identify criminals.
The detective discovered no fewer than 35 fingerprints.
American English: fingerprint
Arabic: بَصْمَةُ الإصْبَع
Brazilian Portuguese: impressão digital
Chinese: 指纹
Croatian: otisak prsta
Czech: otisk prstu
Danish: fingeraftryk
Dutch: vingerafdruk
European Spanish: huella dactilar
Finnish: sormenjälki
French: empreinte digitale
German: Fingerabdruck
Greek: δακτυλικό αποτύπωμα
Italian: impronta digitale
Japanese: 指紋
Korean: 지문
Norwegian: fingeravtrykk
Polish: odcisk palca
European Portuguese: impressão digital
Romanian: amprentă
Russian: отпечаток пальца
Latin American Spanish: huella dactilar
Swedish: fingeravtryck
Thai: ลายพิมพ์นิ้วมือ
Turkish: parmak izi
Ukrainian: відбиток пальця
Vietnamese: vân tay
British English: fingerprint VERB
If someone is fingerprinted, the police take their fingerprints.
He took her to jail, where she was fingerprinted and booked.
American English: fingerprint
Brazilian Portuguese: tirar as impressões digitais de
Chinese: 提取指纹
European Spanish: tomarle las huellas a
French: prendre les empreintes digitales de
German: Fingerabdrücke abnehmen von
Italian: prendere le impronte digitali di
Japanese: 指紋をとる
Korean: 지문을 채취당하다
European Portuguese: tirar as impressões digitais de
Latin American Spanish: tomarle las huellas a
Chinese translation of 'fingerprint'
fingerprint
(ˈfɪŋɡəprɪnt)
n(c)
指纹(紋) (zhǐwén)
vt
[person]取 ... 的指纹(紋) (qǔ ... de zhǐwén)
to take sb's fingerprints取下某人的指纹(紋) (qǔxià mǒurén de zhǐwén)