finger
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈfɪŋɡə/
enpr: fĭngʹ-gər
ipa: /ˈfɪŋɡəɹ/
ipa: /ˈfɪŋəɹ/
rhymes: -ɪŋɡə(ɹ)
Forms: form: fingers
Etymology: PIE word
 *pénkʷe
From Middle English fynger, finger, from Old English finger (“finger”), from Proto-West Germanic *fingr, from Proto-Germanic *fingraz (“finger”), from Proto-Indo-European *penkʷrós, from *pénkʷe (“five”). Compare West Frisian finger, Low German/German Finger, Dutch vinger, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish finger; also Old Armenian հինգեր-որդ (hinger-ord, “fifth”). More at five.
Senses: examples: text: Humans have two hands and ten fingers. Each hand has one thumb and four fingers.
text: [M]aking a Cut here big enough to put her Finger in, which ſhe thruſts under the Guts, and with it rakes or tears out the Stone that lies neareſt to it.
ref: 1750, W[illiam] Ellis, The Country Housewife's Family Companion […] , London: James Hodges; B. Collins, →OCLC, page 157:
text: Each finger extended represents one-eighth of a cent. Thus when all four fingers and the thumb are extended, all being spread out from one another, it means five-eighths.
ref: 1916, “The Finger Talk of Chicago's Wheat-Pit”, in Popular Science Monthly, Vol. 89, p. 81:
text: In 1993 [Victor Candia] noticed that the fingers of his left hand were starting to curl up as he played [on his guitar]. It felt to him as if a magnet in his palm were preventing him from opening them. A week later, he could not play at all.
ref: 2014 March 29, “Don’t cramp my style”, in The Economist, volume 410, number 8880:
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
glosses: A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb.
examples: text: The starfish eats with five fingers.
ref: 1915, Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson, “The How and Why Library”, in Life, Section VIII:
topics: biology
natural-sciences
zoology
glosses: Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals, particularly
topics: biology
natural-sciences
zoology
glosses: Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals
The lower, smaller segment of an arthropod claw.
topics: biology
natural-sciences
zoology
glosses: Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals
One of the supporting structures of wings in birds, bats, etc. evolved from earlier toes or fingers.
topics: biology
natural-sciences
zoology
glosses: Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals
One of the slender bony structures before the pectoral fins of gurnards and sea robins (Triglidae).
examples: text: ...spires whose ‘silent finger points to Heaven’...
ref: 1814, William Wordsworth, The Excursion, page 250:
glosses: Something similar in shape to the human finger, particularly
examples: text: chocolate fingers; fish fingers; cheese fingers
text: By now, we hope you have said “no” to processed nuggets and fingers. Instead, how about taking some real chicken, tossing it with real eggs, a little tangy mustard, and a crunchy quinoa coating?
ref: 2014, Laurie David, The Family Cooks:
topics: cooking
food
lifestyle
glosses: Something similar in shape to the human finger
Finger-shaped pieces of food.
examples: text: An oven is placed over the finger with Co catalyst (oven temperature will depend on whether a quartz or Pyrex finger is used, see Ref. 24), and a cold finger (usually a copper rod immersed in dry ice–isopropanol slurry) is placed on the other tube.
ref: 1996, Susan Trumbore, Mass Spectrometry of Soils, page 318:
topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Something similar in shape to the human finger
A tube extending from a sealed system, or sometimes into one in the case of a cold finger.
topics: biology
botany
natural-sciences
glosses: Something similar in shape to the human finger
Synonym of foxglove (D. purpurea).
synonyms: word: foxglove
extra: (D. purpurea).
examples: a finger of land; a finger of smoke
glosses: Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body, particularly
topics: biology
botany
natural-sciences
glosses: Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
Various protruding plant structures, as a banana from its hand.
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
glosses: Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
A lobe of the liver.
glosses: Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
The teeth parallel to the blade of a scythe, fitted to a wooden frame called a crade.
glosses: Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
The projections of a reaper or mower which similarly separate the stalks for cutting.
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
Clipping of finger pier (“a shorter, narrower pier projecting from a larger dock”).
topics: aeronautics
aerospace
aviation
business
engineering
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
Synonym of jet bridge: the narrow elevated walkway connecting a plane to an airport.
synonyms: word: jet bridge
extra: the narrow elevated walkway connecting a plane to an airport
topics: computing
computing-theory
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
A leaf in a finger tree data structure.
examples: text: The Magicians said vnto Pharaoh; This is the finger of God.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 8:19:
glosses: Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
glosses: Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
Synonym of hand, the part of a clock pointing to the hour, minute, or second.
synonyms: word: hand
extra: the part of a clock pointing to the hour, minute, or second
glosses: Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
A policeman or prison guard.
glosses: Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
An informer to the police, (especially) one who identifies a criminal during a lineup.
glosses: Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
A criminal who scouts for prospective victims and targets or who performs reconnaissance before a crime.
examples: text: The finger of suspicion pointed clearly at the hotel manager.
glosses: Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
That which points; an indicator, as of guilt, blame, or suspicion.
examples: text: a piece of steel three fingers thick
ref: 1648, John Wilkins, Mathematical Magick:
topics: units-of-measure
glosses: Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly
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).
synonyms: word: digit
extra: former units of measure notionally based on its width but variously standardized, (especially) the English digit of ¹⁄₁₆ foot (about 1.9 cm).
topics: units-of-measure
glosses: Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly
A unit of length notionally based on the length of an adult human's middle finger, standardized as 4½ inches (11.43 cm).
topics: units-of-measure
glosses: Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly
Synonym of digit: ¹⁄₁₂ the observed diameter of the sun or moon, (especially) with regard to eclipses.
synonyms: word: digit
extra: ¹⁄₁₂ the observed diameter of the sun or moon, (especially) with regard to eclipses
examples: text: Gimme three fingers of bourbon.
topics: units-of-measure
glosses: Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly
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.
topics: fashion
lifestyle
glosses: A part of a glove intended to cover a finger.
examples: text: A performer capable of doing justice to rapid or expressive passages, is said to have a good finger
ref: 1786, Thomas Busby, Musical Dictionary:
glosses: Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument.
glosses: Someone skilled in the use of their fingers, (especially) a pickpocket.
glosses: A person.
glosses: An obscene or insulting gesture made by raising one's middle finger towards someone with the palm of one's hand facing inwards.
raw_tags: in the phrase 'give someone the finger'
topics: broadcasting
media
radio
glosses: Any of the individual receivers used in a rake receiver to decode signal components.
glosses: An act of fingering (inserting a finger into someone's vagina or rectum for sexual pleasure).
Synonyms: topics: zoology
biology
natural-sciences
english: when on four legs
translation: when on four legs
word: toe
topics: zoology
biology
natural-sciences
word: claw
topics: zoology
biology
natural-sciences
english: usually sharp
translation: usually sharp
word: talon
sense: finger-shaped objects
english: in plants
translation: in plants
word: tendril
sense: airport walkway
word: jet bridge
sense: finger width
word: digit
word: informant
raw_tags: for police informer
sense: skill with the fingers
word: fingering technique
sense: skill with the fingers
word: touch
sense: British slang for person
word: bloke
sense: British slang for person
word: lad
sense: British slang for person
word: boy
sense: British slang for person
word: guv
word: finger
word: lupper
Hypernyms: word: digit
Hyponyms: topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
word: index finger
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
word: forefinger
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
word: middle finger
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
word: ring finger
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
word: little finger
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
word: pinkie
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
word: thumb
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
word: hallux
word: arrow-finger
word: auricular
word: demonstrator
word: ear finger
word: fourth finger
word: fuck finger
word: gold-finger
word: leech-finger
word: lickpot
word: little man
word: marriage finger
word: medical finger
word: medicinal finger
word: mercurial finger
word: physic finger
word: physical finger
word: physician finger
word: pinky
word: pointling
word: ring-finger
word: ring-man
word: showing finger
word: tall man
word: teacher
word: third finger
word: thumby
Meronyms: word: nail
word: fingernail
Derived terms: all fingers and thumbs
arrow-finger
at one's fingertips
befinger
big finger
black finger crab
board finger
bring up on the finger
burn one's fingers
butterfingers
Chinese finger puzzle
Chinese finger trap
click of the fingers
club finger coral
cross one's fingers
dead man's fingers
devil's finger
devil's fingers
dip one's finger in
dirty finger
dog's fingers
ear finger
ear-finger
easy as kiss my finger
eigenfinger
fat finger
fat-finger
fickle finger of fate
fingerable
finger ache
finger alphabet
finger and thumb
finger and toe
finger-and-toe
fingerbang
finger-bang
finger bang
finger bar
finger-bar
finger-beam
finger berry
finger biscuit
fingerblast
fingerboard
finger bone
fingerbone
finger bowl
finger-bowl
finger bread
finger breadth
finger-breadth
fingerbreadth
finger brush
finger buffet
finger bun
finger cherry
finger chip
finger chips
finger-click
finger-clicking
finger-cold
finger-comb
finger-combed
finger coral
finger cot
fingercot
finger-counting
finger counting
finger crotch
fingercuffs
finger cymbal
finger-director
finger-dried
finger drill
finger-dry
finger dry
finger-drying
fingered
fingerer
finger exercise
finger fan
finger-fed
finger fern
finger fillip
finger fish
finger flower
finger food
finger-four
finger-friendly
fingerfuck
finger fuck
finger-fuck
fingerfucker
fingerful
finger-fumbler
finger game
Fingergate
finger glass
finger grass
finger grip
fingerguard
finger guard
finger gun
finger heart
fingerhold
fingerhole
finger hole
finger impression
fingering
finger in the dike
finger in the dyke
finger in the pie
fingerish
finger joint
finger lake
finger language
finger-length
fingerless
fingerlet
finger-licking
finger-lickin' good
finger-light
fingerlike
finger lime
fingerling
finger lith
finger-loping
finger man
finger mark
fingermark
finger-marked
finger mask
fingermeal
finger millet
finger mirror
finger muffin
fingernail
finger-nail
finger nail
finger neb
finger nut
finger on the pulse
finger orchis
finger pad
finger-paint
finger paint
fingerpaint
fingerpainter
finger painting
finger-parted
finger passage
finger piano
finger pick
fingerpick
fingerpicking
finger pie
finger-piece
finger pier
finger pillory
fingerplate
fingerplay
finger plum
finger point
finger-point
finger pointer
finger-pointer
finger pointing
finger-pointing
finger pointing at the moon
finger pointy
finger-pointy
finger-pop
finger-popping
finger post
finger-post
fingerpost
finger prayer book
fingerprick
finger prick
fingerprint
finger-print
finger puff
finger puppet
finger purse
finger-reading
finger ring
finger-roll
finger roll
fingerroot
finger root
fingers and thumbs
fingers and toes
finger sandwich
fingersbreadth
finger's-breadth
finger screw
fingers crossed
finger-shade
finger shell
finger shield
fingersmith
finger-snap
finger-snapper
finger-snapping
finger speech
fingerspell
fingerspeller
finger spelling
fingerspelling
finger spin
finger-spinner
finger spinner
finger splint
finger sponge
fingerstall
finger steak
finger steel
finger stick
fingerstick
finger stocks
fingerstyle
fingersucking
fingers were made before forks
finger-talk
finger talking
finger-talking
finger tap
finger-tapping
finger tight
finger-tight
fingertip
finger to the wind
finger-tray
finger trouble
finger-wag
finger-wagging
finger watch
finger wave
finger-waving
fingerwear
finger weaving
finger width
fingerwise
finger work
finger wrestling
fingery
first finger
fish finger
five-finger
five finger
five-finger discount
five finger discount
five-finger exercise
five finger exercise
foam finger
forefinger
fourth finger
fucked by the fickle finger of fate
fuck finger
fuck-you finger
fumblefingers
get one's finger out
get one's fingers burnt
get one's fingers onto
give the finger
give the fingers
gold-finger
green fingers
hang long betwixt one's fingers
hang long betwixt the fingers
have a fine finger
have a finger in
have a finger in every pie
have fingers made of lime-twigs
have green fingers
have more of in one's finger
have one's finger on the pulse
have one's finger on the trigger
have one's fingers in many pies
have one's fingers in the till
have the most fingers
index finger
in one's fingers
interfinger
itchy trigger finger
king's finger
ladies' fingers
ladyfinger
lady's finger
lay a finger on
least finger
leech-finger
let one's fingers do the walking
lift a finger
light-finger
little finger
long finger
look through one's fingers
lords' and ladies' fingers
mallet finger
marriage finger
medical finger
medicinal finger
mercurial finger
middle finger
middle-finger
mid-finger
misfinger
move a finger
multifinger
nameless finger
nanofinger
old finger
one-finger salute
one finger salute
one's fingers are all thumbs
one's fingers itch
out of one's fingers
physical finger
physic finger
physician finger
pinfinger
pinkie finger
pinky finger
pointer finger
point the finger at
pull my finger
pull one's finger on
pull one's finger out
pussy finger
put a finger to the wind
put one's finger in a hole
put one's finger in the dyke
put one's finger in the fire
put one's finger on
put on the long finger
put the finger on
putty in someone's fingers
raise a finger
raise a finger against
refinger
ring finger
ring-finger
Scotch finger
seal finger
showing finger
skirt finger
slip through one's fingers
snap of a finger
snap of the fingers
snap one's fingers
splitfinger
split finger
split-finger fastball
stick two fingers up
sticky finger
sticky-finger
sticky fingers
stir a finger
suck out of one's finger
the finger
third finger
three-finger salute
trigger finger
turn around one's finger
twist around one's little finger
two fingers
two-finger salute
vibration white finger
wag a finger
wag one's finger
wedding finger
wind around one's little finger
with a wet finger
within one's fingers
with one's finger in one's mouth
with one's finger up one's ass
word of finger
work one's fingers to the bone
wrap around one's fingers
wrap around one's little finger
zinc finger
Related terms: word: :Category:Fingers