| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024thumb /θʌm/USA pronunciation n. - Anatomy the short, thick, inner digit of the hand, next to the forefinger and set apart from the other four:[countable]He stuck out his thumb for a ride.
- Zoologythe corresponding finger in animals.
- the part of a glove or mitten that contains this digit.
v. - to turn (pages) with the thumb:[~ + object]to thumb the edges of a book.
- to glance through (pages):[~ + through + object]thumbed through the brochure.
- (of a hitchhiker) to ask for (a ride) by pointing the thumb in the direction of travel:[~ + object]to thumb a ride.
Idioms- Idioms be all thumbs, to be clumsy:When it comes to car repairs he's all thumbs.
- Idioms thumb one's nose, [~ + at + object]
- to raise the hand with fingers extended and touch the thumb to the nose as a gesture of contempt, etc.:thumbed his nose at the police officer and raced off.
- to show contempt or defiance:to thumb one's nose at society.
- under someone's thumb, to be under the control or rule of someone else.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024thumb (thum),USA pronunciation n. - Anatomythe short, thick, inner digit of the human hand, next to the forefinger.
- Zoologythe corresponding digit in other animals;
pollex. - the part of a glove or mitten for containing this digit.
- Architecturean ovolo or echinus molding.
- all thumbs, awkward;
clumsy;
bungling:The visitor almost knocked over a vase and seemed to be all thumbs. - thumbs down, a gesture or expression of dissent or disapproval:We turned thumbs down to that suggestion.
- thumbs up, a gesture or expression of assent or approval.
- under one's thumb, under the power or influence of;
subordinate to. Also, under the thumb of.
v.t. - to soil or wear with the thumbs in handling, as the pages of a book.
- to glance through (the pages of a book, leaflet, etc.) quickly.
- to play (a guitar or other instrument) with or as with the thumbs.
- (of a hitchhiker) to solicit or get (a ride) by pointing the thumb in the desired direction of travel.
- thumb one's nose:
- to put one's thumb to one's nose and extend the fingers as a crudely defiant or contemptuous gesture.
- to express defiance or contempt;
dismiss or reject contemptuously.
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English thūma; cognate with Dutch duim, Old Saxon, Old High German dūmo (German Daumen), Old Norse thumall; akin to Latin tumēre to swell (tumor)
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: thumb /θʌm/ n - the first and usually shortest and thickest of the digits of the hand, composed of two short bones
- the corresponding digit in other vertebrates
- the part of a glove shaped to fit the thumb
- all thumbs ⇒ clumsy
- thumbs down ⇒ an indication of refusal, disapproval, or negation: he gave the thumbs down on our proposal
- thumbs up ⇒ an indication of encouragement, approval, or acceptance
- under someone's thumb ⇒ at someone's mercy or command
vb - (transitive) to touch, mark, or move with the thumb
- to attempt to obtain (a lift or ride) by signalling with the thumb
- when intr, often followed by through: to flip the pages of (a book, magazine, etc) perfunctorily in order to glance at the contents
- thumb one's nose at ⇒ to deride or mock, esp by placing the thumb on the nose with fingers extended
Etymology: Old English thūma; related to Old Saxon thūma, Old High German thūmo, Old Norse thumall thumb of a glove, Latin tumēre to swell |