- opposable thumb
- noun (C) a thumb that human beings, monkeys etc have that can be used for holding things
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.
opposable thumb
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Thumb — For other uses, see Thumb (disambiguation). Thumb The Thumb. Latin pollex, digitus primus, digitus I Artery … Wikipedia
opposable — opposability, n. /euh poh zeuh beuhl/, adj. 1. capable of being placed opposite to something else: the opposable thumb of primates. 2. capable of being resisted, fought, or opposed. [1660 70; OPPOSE + ABLE] * * * … Universalium
opposable — op·pos·able ə pō zə bəl adj capable of being placed against one or more of the remaining digits of a hand or foot <an opposable thumb> op·pos·abil·i·ty .pō zə bil ət ē n, pl ties … Medical dictionary
opposable — op•pos•a•ble [[t]əˈpoʊ zə bəl[/t]] adj. 1) capable of being opposed or resisted 2) able to be placed against something else: the opposable thumb of primates[/ex] • Etymology: 1660–70 op•pos a•bil′i•ty, n … From formal English to slang
thumb — [thum] n. [ME (with unhistoric b) < OE thuma, akin to Ger daume(n) < IE base * tēu , to swell, increase > L tumor: basic sense, “enlarged finger”] 1. the short, thick digit of the human hand that is nearest the wrist and is opposable to… … English World dictionary
thumb — ► NOUN ▪ the short, thick first digit of the hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them. ► VERB 1) press, touch, or indicate with one s thumb. 2) turn over (pages) with one s thumb. 3) (thumbed) (of a book s pages) worn… … English terms dictionary
Opposable — Op*pos a*ble, a. 1. Capable of being opposed or resisted. [1913 Webster] 2. Capable of being placed opposite something else; as, the thumb is opposable to the forefinger. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
opposable — ► ADJECTIVE Zoology ▪ (of the thumb of a primate) capable of facing and touching the other digits on the same hand … English terms dictionary
opposable — [ə pō′zə bəl] adj. 1. that can be opposed 2. that can be placed opposite something else, as the thumb with each finger opposability n … English World dictionary
thumb — n. & v. n. 1 a a short thick terminal projection on the human hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them. b a digit of other animals corresponding to this. 2 part of a glove etc. for a thumb. v. 1 tr. wear or soil (pages… … Useful english dictionary
