finger-print

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mark made by the tip of a finger: "finger-print" refers to the unique pattern of ridges and valleys on the skin of a fingertip, typically left as an impression on a surface. It is used for identification.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The detective found a clear finger-print on the glass. (A mark left by the tip of a finger, used as evidence.)
  • Each person has a unique finger-print that never changes. (The distinctive pattern of a fingertip.)

Advanced Usage

• "to take a finger-print": to obtain a record of someone's finger-print for identification purposes.

  • The police took his finger-print during the investigation. (They recorded the pattern of his fingertip.)

• "finger-print analysis": the scientific study of finger-prints to identify individuals.

  • Finger-print analysis is a key tool in forensic science. (The examination of fingertip patterns.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fingerprint (n): a common spelling variant of "finger-print", referring to the same mark.

  • Her fingerprint was found on the document. (The mark from her fingertip.)

• Fingerprinting (n): the process of recording or analyzing finger-prints.

  • Fingerprinting is used for background checks. (The act of taking and examining fingertip patterns.)

Synonyms

• Dactylogram: a formal term for a finger-print, especially in scientific contexts.
  • The dactylogram matched the suspect's record. (The finger-print pattern.)

Related Idioms

• No direct idioms: "finger-print" is primarily a technical term and does not have common idiomatic uses. However, it is often used metaphorically in phrases like "digital finger-print" to mean a unique identifier in technology.