thumb
/θʌm/ (bre, ipa) · /θʌm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈthəm/ (ame, mw)
thumb — noun
- thumbsingular
- thumbsplural
1. the thumb is the finger on each hand that sits to one side of the other four, sh
the thumb is the finger on each hand that sits to one side of the other four, shorter and thicker than them, and can reach each one — this position lets you hold items tightly, pick up little objects, and do careful manual work.
The baby put her thumb in her mouth and fell asleep.
possessive determiner + thumb + location phrase
Minho accidentally hit his thumb with a hammer while fixing the shelf.
The potter pressed her thumb into the soft clay to shape the bowl.
Owen's thumb was sore from hours of scrolling on his phone.
The nurse placed two fingers near the patient's thumb to feel the pulse.
用法筆記
Countable noun. The thumb differs from the other fingers in having only two bones (phalanges) instead of three and in being able to rotate across the palm to touch each finger — a movement called opposition.
常見錯誤
2. the section of a hand covering that holds the thumb away from the other four fin
the section of a hand covering that holds the thumb away from the other four fingers.
The left glove has a small hole in the thumb.
the thumb — referring to part of a glove
Devika pulled the thumb of her mitten back into shape after taking it off.
Tamar sewed a patch onto the torn thumb of her ski glove.
The thumb of the oven mitt was too short, so the baker's wrist got burned.
用法筆記
Nearly always appears as 'the thumb' in a possessive or partitive structure ('the thumb of the glove', 'the glove's thumb'). Seldom used in the plural, even when referring to both gloves.
thumb — verb
- thumbpresent simple I / you / we / they
- thumbs3rd person singular
- thumbing-ing form
- thumbedpast simple
1. to signal to passing drivers that you want a free ride by standing at the roadsi
to signal to passing drivers that you want a free ride by standing at the roadside with your hand held out and your thumb pointing upward — used mainly in the phrases 'thumb a ride' and 'thumb a lift'.
Roya stood by the highway and thumbed a ride into the city.
thumbed a ride — common collocation for hitchhiking
In the 1960s, many young travellers thumbed across Europe for months at a time.
Ife thumbed a lift to the coast when her car broke down on the motorway.
The stranded cyclist thumbed for help for nearly an hour before anyone stopped.
Joaquín decided not to thumb rides after dark for safety reasons.
文法句型
thumb + a ride
thumb + a lift
thumb + noun
用法筆記
The object is nearly always 'a ride' or 'a lift' (e.g., 'thumbed a ride'). Intransitive use ('thumb for help', 'thumb across Europe') is less common but acceptable in informal contexts. Becoming less frequent as ride-sharing apps replace traditional hitchhiking.
常見錯誤
2. to express open disrespect, defiance, or mockery toward someone or something — o
to express open disrespect, defiance, or mockery toward someone or something — originally by placing the tip of your thumb on your nose with fingers spread as a taunting gesture, and now also used figuratively.
Dario thumbed his nose at the judge and received a warning from the court.
thumbed + possessive + nose + at — the full construction
The rebellious teenager thumbed her nose at school rules and skipped class.
Some artists deliberately thumb their noses at popular taste and convention.
Drivers thumbed their noses at the new speed limits and drove as fast as before.
- respect
the opposite attitude; to treat with honour or deference
文法句型
thumb + possessive + nose + at + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'thumb one's nose at (someone/something)'. The physical gesture is now rare; the phrase is mostly figurative. Distinguish from sense verb/1 — this sense is about defiance, not requesting a ride.
3. to turn the pages of a book, magazine, or other document quickly and casually us
to turn the pages of a book, magazine, or other document quickly and casually using your thumb, usually to scan or browse the contents rather than to read carefully.
Brian thumbed through the magazine while waiting for his dentist appointment.
thumbed through — phrasal verb pattern for browsing
Élise thumbed the pages of the old atlas, searching for the small island.
The librarian watched a student thumb through a rare manuscript without gloves.
Inês thumbed quickly through the report before the morning meeting started.
A well-thumbed cookbook on the kitchen counter showed its owner's favourite recipes.
- browse
more general; can apply to digital or physical content
- flip through
synonymous but slightly more informal; emphasizes speed
- skim
focuses on reading quickly rather than on the physical turning of pages
文法句型
thumb + through + noun phrase
thumb + noun phrase (pages/ book)
用法筆記
When used transitively, the object is typically 'pages' or a specific document ('thumbed the report'). When used with 'through', the object is the publication as a whole ('thumb through a book'). The passive participle 'thumbed' (e.g., 'well-thumbed pages') is common as an adjective.