Finger /(fĭṉ"gẽr)/

Fin·ger

Finger

n.
  1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extremities of the hand, other than the thumb.
  2. Anything that does the work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; (Mech.)
  3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard.
    A piece of steel three fingers thick.
    — Bp. Wilkins.
  4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.]
    She has a good finger.
    — Busby.

Phrases & Compounds
Ear finger
the little finger.
Finger alphabet
See Dactylology.
Finger bar
the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play.
Finger board
the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual.
Finger bowl
a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table.
Finger flower
the foxglove.
Finger grass
a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab.
Finger nut
a fly nut or thumb nut.
Finger plate
a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks.
Finger post
a guide post bearing an index finger.
Finger reading
reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind.
Finger shell
a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form.
Finger sponge
a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches.
Finger stall
a cover or shield for a finger.
Finger steel
a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife.
To burn one's fingers
See under Burn.
To have a finger in
to be concerned in.
To have at one's fingers' ends
to be thoroughly familiar with.

Finger

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Fingered; p. pr. & vb. n. Fingering

  1. To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with.
    Let the papers lie; You would be fingering them to anger me.
  2. To touch lightly; to toy with.
  3. To perform on an instrument of music. (Mus.)
  4. To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin.
  5. To execute, as any delicate work.

Finger

v. i.
  1. To use the fingers in playing on an instrument. (Mus.)