the short, thick, inner digit of the human hand, next to the forefinger.

the corresponding digit in other animals; pollex.

the part of a glove or mitten for containing this digit.

Architecture . an ovolo or echinus molding.

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. ?

all thumbs

awkward; clumsy; bungling

The visitor almost knocked over a vase and seemed to be all thumbs.

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.

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.

verb

dip into , flip through , glance at , leaf , riffle , run through , scan , skim

noun

pollex