- 1[intransitive, transitive] to make a signal with your thumb to passing drivers to ask them to stop and take you somewhere + adv./prep. He had thumbed all across Europe. thumb a ride We managed to thumb a ride with a truck driver.
- 2[transitive] thumb something (+ adv./prep.) to touch or move something with your thumb She thumbed off the safety catch of her pistol. see well-thumbed Idioms
thumb
verbNAmE//θʌm//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they thumb he / she / it thumbs
past simple thumbed
-ing form thumbing
to make a rude sign with your thumb on your nose; to show that you have no respect for someone or something The company just thumbs its nose at the legislation on pollution. Phrasal Verbsthumb through
Check pronunciation: thumb