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[fing-ger] /ˈfɪŋ gər/

noun
1.
any of the terminal members of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.
2.
a part of a glove made to receive a finger.
3.
the breadth of a finger as a unit of measurement; digit.
4.
the length of a finger: approximately 4½ inches (11 cm).
5.
Slang. an informer or spy.
6.
something like a finger in form or use, as a projection or pointer:
a finger of land leading out into the bay; the finger on the speedometer.
7.
any of various projecting parts of machines.
verb (used with object)
8.
to touch with the fingers; toy or meddle with; handle.
9.
to touch with the fingers so as to mar or spoil:
Please don’t finger the vegetables.
10.
to pilfer; filch.
11.
Music.

12.
Slang.

verb (used without object)
13.
to touch or handle something with the fingers.
14.
to extend in or as in the shape of a finger:
Landing piers finger out into the river along the city’s shoreline.
Idioms
15.
burn one’s fingers, to suffer injury or loss by meddling or by acting rashly:
If you get involved in the controversy, you may burn your fingers.
16.
give (someone) the finger, Slang. to express contempt for by or as by the obscene gesture of pointing the middle finger upward while folding the other fingers against the palm.
17.
have a finger in the pie,

18.
keep one’s fingers crossed, to wish for good luck or success, as in a specific endeavor:
Keep your fingers crossed that I get the job.
19.
lay / put one’s finger on,

20.
not lift a finger, to make not even a small attempt; do nothing:
The house was falling into ruin, but he wouldn’t lift a finger to repair it.
21.
put the finger on, Slang. (def 12).
22.
slip through one’s fingers,

23.
snap one’s fingers (at), to exhibit disdain or contempt (for):
She snaps her fingers at the local gossip.
24.
twist / wrap around one’s little finger, to exert one’s influence easily or successfully upon:
He has a remarkable talent for twisting people around his little finger.
/ˈfɪŋɡə/
noun
1.

2.
the part of a glove made to cover a finger
3.
something that resembles a finger in shape or function: a finger of land
4.
Also called digit. the length or width of a finger used as a unit of measurement
5.
a quantity of liquid in a glass, etc, as deep as a finger is wide; tot
6.
a projecting machine part, esp one serving as an indicator, guide, or guard
7.
burn one’s fingers, to suffer from having meddled or been rash
8.
(Brit, informal) get one’s finger out, pull one’s finger out, to begin or speed up activity, esp after initial delay or slackness
9.
have a finger in the pie, have one’s finger in the pie

10.
(usually negative) lay a finger on, to harm
11.
lay one’s finger on, put one’s finger on, to indicate, identify, or locate accurately
12.
let slip through one’s fingers, to allow to escape; miss narrowly
13.
(foll by an infinitive) not lift a finger, not raise a finger, not to make any effort (to do something)
14.
point the finger at, to accuse or blame
15.
(informal) put the finger on

16.
twist around one’s little finger, wrap around one’s little finger, to have easy and complete control or influence over
verb
17.
(transitive) to touch or manipulate with the fingers; handle
18.
(transitive) (informal, mainly US) to identify as a criminal or suspect
19.
(intransitive) to extend like a finger
20.
to use one’s fingers in playing (an instrument, such as a piano or clarinet)
21.
to indicate on (a composition or part) the fingering required by a pianist, harpsichordist, etc
22.
(transitive; usually passive) to arrange the keys of (a clarinet, flute, etc) for playing in a certain way
n.

Old English fingor, from Proto-Germanic *fingraz (cf. Old Saxon fingar, Old Frisian finger, Old Norse fingr, Dutch vinger, German Finger, Gothic figgrs), with no cognates outside Germanic; perhaps connected with PIE *penkwe-, the root meaning “five.”

As a unit of measure (Middle English) it represents the breadth of a finger, about three-quarters of an inch. They generally are numbered from the thumb, and named index finger, fool’s finger, leech- or physic-finger, and ear-finger.
v.

early 15c., “to touch or point to with the finger” (but cf. fingering from late 14c.), from finger (n.). Sense of “play upon a musical instrument” is from 1510s. The meaning “identify a criminal” is underworld slang first recorded 1930. Related: Fingered; fingering.

finger fin·ger (fĭng’gər)
n.
One of the five digits of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.

Related Terms

butterfingers, five fingers, give five fingers to

noun

verb

Related Terms

butterfingers, five fingers, give five fingers to, give someone the finger, not lay a glove on someone, play stinky-pinky, put one’s finger on something, put the finger on someone, stand around with one’s finger up one’s ass
In addition to the idiom beginning with
finger