thumb meaning
thumb :
finger, knob
noun
▪ She hurt her thumb while playing soccer.
▪ She hurt her finger while playing soccer.
▪ Please turn the knob with your thumb.
▪ Please turn the knob with your finger.
paraphrasing
▪ digit – finger
▪ knob – small handle
▪ grip – hold
▪ handle – knob
thumb :
to move with the thumb, to hold with the thumb
verb
▪ He thumbs through the pages of the book.
▪ He flips through the pages of the book.
▪ She thumbed the ticket through the machine.
▪ She passed the ticket through the machine.
paraphrasing
▪ flip – turn through
▪ pass – move through
▪ browse – look through
▪ scroll – move through
Pronunciation
thumb [θʌm]
The word thumb sounds like "thum".
Common phrases and grammar about thumb
thumb - Common meaning
noun
finger, knob
verb
to move with the thumb, to hold with the thumb
Part of Speech Changes for "thumb"
▪ thumbnail (noun) – a small image of something
▪ thumb drive (noun) – a portable storage device
Common Expressions with "thumb"
▪ flip pages with thumb – to turn pages using the thumb
▪ thumb through a magazine – to look through a magazine using the thumb
▪ hold something with thumb – to grip with the thumb
▪ use thumb to turn – to use the thumb to turn something
Important examples of thumb in TOEIC
Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test
In TOEIC vocabulary questions, thumb is often used in contexts like "thumb through a document" or "use your thumb to turn pages."
Example of a confusing word: thump (to hit or strike)
Grammar examples from the TOEIC test
As a verb, thumb is used to describe the action of turning pages or holding something with the thumb, often appearing in grammar questions about verb usage.
thumb
Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC
thumb drive
'portable storage device', used when referring to USB drives or similar devices in TOEIC passages.
keep a thumb on
means to monitor or keep track of something.
Differences between similar words and thumb
thumb
,
finger
differences
thumb refers specifically to the thick part of the hand or a knob, while finger refers to any of the other digits.
Words with the same origin as thumb
The origin of thumb
The word 'thumb' comes from the Old English word 'þūma,' meaning the same as in modern English.
Word structure
The word 'thumb' has no prefix or suffix and consists solely of the root 'thumb.'
Words with the same origin
The word's root is 'thumb.' Similar words with the same root include 'thumbnail' and 'thumbdrive.'
