finger

1. 1

   A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb, and the corresponding part, irrespective of including a thumb, in many other animals.

   • Humans have two hands and ten fingers. Each hand has one thumb and four fingers.
2. 2

   Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals, particularly

   • The starfish eats with five fingers.
3. 3

   Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals; The lower, smaller segment of an arthropod claw.

4. 4

   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.

5. 5

   Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals; One of the slender bony structures before the pectoral fins of gurnards and sea robins (Triglidae).

6. 6

   Something similar in shape to the human finger, particularly

   • ...spires whose ‘silent finger points to Heaven’...
7. 7

   Something similar in shape to the human finger; Finger-shaped pieces of food.

   • chocolate fingers; fish fingers; cheese fingers
8. 8

   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.

   • 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 oth
9. 9

   Something similar in shape to the human finger; Synonym of foxglove (D. purpurea).UKobsoleteplural-normally

10. 10

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

    • a finger of land; a finger of smoke

syn. toe · claw · talon · informant · finger · lupper · digit

1. 1

   To identify or point out; to blame for something.transitive

   • This makes it quite difficult to finger specific gene variants, since any one variant contributes only tiny effects.
   • I'm rose-tinting my teenage years, for sure, but Twenge isn't the only generational-change researcher to finger the ubiquitous smartphone for contributing to higher rates of teen depression and anxiety.
2. 2

   To report to or identify for the authorities; to inform on.transitive

3. 3

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

   • Goe, get you gone: and let the papers lye: / You would be fingring them, to anger me.
   • "They have done a foolish thing," said I, fingering my wineglass.
4. 4

   To use the fingers to sexually stimulate one's own or another person's vulva, vagina, or anus.transitive

   • She fingered him, spreading the gel and sliding the tip of her finger inside him.
   • She smiled, a look of amazement on her face, as if thinking that maybe this was the cock that she had been fantasizing about just now, as she fingered herself to a massive, body-engulfing orgasm.
5. 5

   To use specified finger positions in producing notes on a musical instrument.transitive

6. 6

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

7. 7

   To query (a user's status) using the Finger protocol.Internettransitive

   • There is also a hot-link to "finger" the guys at id to see what they're working on next (John Carmack, John Cash […]
   • PGP mail welcome (finger me for my key).
8. 8

   To steal; to purloin.obsolete

   • in the dark / Grop'd I to finde out them; had my desire, / Finger'd their Packet, and in fine, withdrew / To mine owne roome againe,
9. 9

   To execute, as any delicate work.obsoletetransitive