Definition

1. Noun:

   • One of the slender, jointed parts at the end of the human hand (often excluding the thumb): A finger is a digit of the hand, used for touching, grasping, and manipulating objects.
   • A part of a glove covering a finger: The finger of a glove is the section designed to enclose a human finger.
   • A linear measurement based on a finger's width: Historically, a unit of length approximately equal to the breadth of a finger.

2. Verb:

   • To touch or handle with the fingers: To use one's fingers to feel, examine, or manipulate something.
   • To identify or indicate, especially musically: To mark a musical score with numbers or symbols to show which fingers should be used to play specific notes.
   • To search for information on a computer: To use a computer to look up or investigate something, often in a probing manner.

Examples

• Noun:

  • She wore a ring on her index finger.
  • There was a hole in the finger of his leather glove.
  • The ancient text described a distance of three fingers.

• Verb:

  • Please do not finger the merchandise in the store.
  • The composer fingered the difficult passage for the pianist.
  • He fingered the company database to check employee login times.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a finger in every pie": To be involved in many different activities or businesses.

  • She seems to have a finger in every pie in the local community.

• "to point the finger at someone": To accuse or blame someone.

  • The report pointed the finger at management for the safety failures.

• "to slip through one's fingers": To fail to seize or keep an opportunity.

  • The championship title slipped through their fingers in the final minutes.

Variants and Related Words

• Fingering (n): The technique or method of using the fingers, especially when playing a musical instrument.

  • The violin piece requires complex fingering.

• Fingertip (n): The very end of a finger.

  • He had the information at his fingertips.

• Fingerlike (adj): Resembling a finger in shape.

  • Fingerlike projections of coral extended into the current.

Synonyms

• Digit (n): A finger or toe.
• Feel (v): To examine or perceive by touch.
• Handle (v): To touch or hold with the hands.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Finger through: To search or look through something quickly using the fingers.

  • She fingered through the stack of old photographs.

• Finger out (informal): To identify or single out.

  • It was easy to finger out the main cause of the problem.

Related Idioms

• "All fingers and thumbs": To be clumsy or awkward with one's hands.

  • I'm all fingers and thumbs this morning; I've already dropped my coffee.

• "Lift a finger": To make the slightest effort to help.

  • He didn't lift a finger to clean the house.

• "Put one's finger on something": To identify or recall something precisely.

  • I can't quite put my finger on what's different about her new haircut.

Noun

1. one of the parts of a glove that provides covering for a finger or thumb
2. the length of breadth of a finger used as a linear measure
3. any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
   • her fingers were long and thin

Verb

1. indicate the fingering for the playing of musical scores for keyboard instruments
2. search for on the computer
   • I fingered my boss and found that he is not logged on in the afternoons
3. examine by touch
   • Feel this soft cloth!
   • The customer fingered the sweater
4. feel or handle with the fingers
   • finger the binding of the book