FINGER

finger

(noun) one of the parts of a glove that provides covering for a finger or thumb

finger

(noun) any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb); “her fingers were long and thin”

finger, fingerbreadth, finger's breadth, digit

(noun) the length of breadth of a finger used as a linear measure

finger

(verb) indicate the fingering for the playing of musical scores for keyboard instruments

feel, finger

(verb) examine by touch; “Feel this soft cloth!”; “The customer fingered the sweater”

finger, thumb

(verb) feel or handle with the fingers; “finger the binding of the book”

finger

(verb) search for on the computer; “I fingered my boss and found that he is not logged on in the afternoons”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

finger (plural fingers)

(anatomy) A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb.

(zoology) Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals, particularly

The lower, smaller segment of an arthropod claw.

One of the supporting structures of wings in birds, bats, etc. evolved from earlier toes or fingers.

One of the slender bony structures before the pectoral fins of gurnards and sea robins (Triglidae).

Something similar in shape to the human finger, particularly:

(cuisine) Finger-shaped pieces of food.

(chemistry) A tube extending from a sealed system, or sometimes into one in the case of a cold finger.

(UK regional, botany, usually in plural, obsolete) synonym of foxglove (D. purpurea).

Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body, particularly:

(botany) Various protruding plant structures, as a banana from its hand.

(anatomy, obsolete) A lobe of the liver.

(historical) The teeth parallel to the blade of a scythe, fitted to a wooden frame called a crade.

The projections of a reaper or mower which similarly separate the stalks for cutting.

(nautical) Clipping of finger pier: a shorter, narrower pier projecting from a larger dock.

(aviation) synonym of jet bridge: the narrow elevated walkway connecting a plane to an airport.

Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.

(obsolete) synonym of hand, the part of a clock pointing to the hour, minute, or second.

(US, obsolete slang) A policeman or prison guard.

(US, rare slang) An informer to the police, (especially) one who identifies a criminal during a lineup.

(US, rare slang) A criminal who scouts for prospective victims and targets or who performs reconnaissance before a crime.

(figurative) That which points; an indicator, as of guilt, blame, or suspicion.

(units of measure) Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly

(historical) synonym of digit: former units of measure notionally based on its width but variously standardized, (especially) the English digit of 1/16 foot (about 1.9 cm).

(historical) A unit of length notionally based on the length of an adult human's middle finger, standardized as 4½ inches (11.43 cm).

(historical) synonym of digit: 1/12 the observed diameter of the sun or moon, (especially) with regard to eclipses.

(originally US) An informal measure of alcohol based on its height in a given glass compared to the width of the pourer's fingers while holding it.

(fashion) A part of a glove intended to cover a finger.

(informal, obsolete) Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument.

(informal, rare) Someone skilled in the use of their fingers, (especially) a pickpocket.

(UK slang) A person.

(especially in the phrase 'give someone the finger') An obscene or insulting gesture made by raising one's middle finger towards someone with the palm of one's hand facing inwards.

Synonyms

• (anatomy): See Thesaurus:finger

• (zoology): toe (when on four legs); claw, talon (usually sharp)

• (finger-shaped objects): tendril (in plants)

• (airport walkway): See jet bridge

• (finger width): See digit

• (slang for police informer): See Thesaurus:informant

• (skill with the fingers): fingering technique; touch

• (British slang for person): bloke, lad, boy, guv

Hyponyms

• (anatomy): index finger, forefinger; middle finger; ring finger; little finger, pinkie; thumb, hallux

Verb

finger (third-person singular simple present fingers, present participle fingering, simple past and past participle fingered)

(transitive) To identify or point out. Also put the finger on. To report to or identify for the authorities, rat on, rat out, squeal on, tattle on, turn in.

(transitive) To poke, probe, feel, or fondle with a finger or fingers.

(transitive) To use the fingers to penetrate and sexually stimulate one's own or another person's vagina or anus; to fingerbang

(transitive, music) To use specified finger positions in producing notes on a musical instrument.

(transitive, music) To provide instructions in written music as to which fingers are to be used to produce particular notes or passages.

(transitive, computing) To query (a user's status) using the Finger protocol.

(obsolete) To steal; to purloin.

(transitive, obsolete) To execute, as any delicate work.

Synonyms

• (to identify or point out): inform, grass up, snitch; See also rat out

• (sexual): fingerbang, fingerfuck

Anagrams

• fringe

Proper noun

Finger

A surname.

A city in Tennessee.

Anagrams

• fringe

Source: Wiktionary


Fin"ger, n. Etym: [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.]

1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extermities of the hand, other than the thumb.

2. Anything that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion.

3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. A piece of steel three fingers thick. Bp. Wilkins.

4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.] She has a good finger. Busby. Ear finger, the little finger.

– Finger alphabet. See Dactylology.

– Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play.

– Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual.

– Finger bowl or glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table.

– Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove.

– Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab.

– Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut.

– Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks.

– Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger.

– Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind.

– Finger shell (Zoöl.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form.

– Finger sponge (Zoöl.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches.

– Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger.

– Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife. To burn one's fingers. See under Burn.

– To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.] -- To have at one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.]

Fin"ger, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fingered; p. pr. & vb. n. Fingering.]

1. To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with. Let the papers lie; You would be fingering them to anger me. Shak.

2. To touch lightly; to toy with.

3. (Mus.) (a) To perform on an instrument of music. (b) To mark the notes of (a piece of music) so as to guide the fingers in playing.

4. To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin. Shak.

5. To execute, as any delicate work.

Fin"ger, v. i. (Mus.)

Definition: To use the fingers in playing on an instrument. Busby.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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INTUITIVELY

(adverb) in an intuitive manner; “inventors seem to have chosen intuitively a combination of explosive and aggressive sounds as warning signals to be used on automobiles”


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