fin·ger  (f?ng?g?r)n.1. One of the five digits of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.2. The part of a glove designed to cover a finger.3. Something, such as an oblong peninsula, that resembles one of the digits of the hand.4. The length or width of a finger.5. A degree of participation; a share: “seems almost sure to have a finger or two in crafting the final blueprint” (George B. Merry).6. An obscene gesture of defiance or derision made by pointing or jabbing the middle finger upward. Often used with the.v. fin·gered, fin·ger·ing, fin·gers v.tr.1. To touch with the fingers; handle. See Synonyms at touch.2. Music a. To mark (a score) with indications of which fingers are to play the notes.b. To play (an instrument) by using the fingers in a particular order or way.3. Informal a. To identify as responsible for wrongdoing or a crime, especially to the police: fingered the sales clerk as the thief.b. To identify or designate as being responsible: “An international team of scientists fingered [the fungus] as the culprit in die-offs of 19 amphibian species” (Science News).4. Vulgar Slang To insert one or more fingers into the anus or vagina of (a person) as a means of sexual stimulation.v.intr.1. To handle something with the fingers.2. Music To use the fingers in playing an instrument.Idioms: have/keep (one’s) fingers crossed To hope for a successful or advantageous outcome. lay (one’s)/a finger on To locate; find: We haven’t been able to lay a finger on those photos. put (one’s) finger on To remember; recall: I know his name; I just can’t put my finger on it. twist/wrap around (one’s) little finger To dominate utterly and effortlessly.[Middle English, from Old English; see penkwe in Indo-European roots.]fin?ger·er n.fin?ger·less adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.finger (?f????) n1. (Anatomy) a. any of the digits of the hand, often excluding the thumb. Technical name: digitus manus b. (as modifier): a finger bowl. c. (in combination): a fingernail. digital2. (Clothing & Fashion) the part of a glove made to cover a finger3. something that resembles a finger in shape or function: a finger of land. 4. (Units) Also called: digit the length or width of a finger used as a unit of measurement5. (Brewing) a quantity of liquid in a glass, etc, as deep as a finger is wide; tot6. (Mechanical Engineering) a projecting machine part, esp one serving as an indicator, guide, or guard7. burn one’s fingers to suffer from having meddled or been rash8. get one’s finger out pull one’s finger out informal Brit to begin or speed up activity, esp after initial delay or slackness9. have a finger in the pie have one’s finger in the pie a. to have an interest in or take part in some activityb. to meddle or interfere10. lay a finger on (usually negative) to harm11. lay one’s finger on put one’s finger on to indicate, identify, or locate accurately12. let slip through one’s fingers to allow to escape; miss narrowly13. not lift a finger not raise a finger (foll by an infinitive) not to make any effort (to do something)14. point the finger at to accuse or blame15. put the finger on informal a. to inform on or identify, esp for the policeb. to choose (the victim or location of an intended crime)16. twist around one’s little finger wrap around one’s little finger to have easy and complete control or influence overvb17. (tr) to touch or manipulate with the fingers; handle18. (tr) informal chiefly US to identify as a criminal or suspect19. (intr) to extend like a finger20. (Music, other) to use one’s fingers in playing (an instrument, such as a piano or clarinet)21. (Music, other) to indicate on (a composition or part) the fingering required by a pianist, harpsichordist, etc22. (Music, other) (tr; usually passive) to arrange the keys of (a clarinet, flute, etc) for playing in a certain way[Old English; related to Old Norse fingr, Gothic figgrs, Old High German fingar; see five, fist] ?fingerer n ?fingerless adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014fin?ger (?f?? g?r) n. 1. any of the jointed terminal members of the hand, esp. one other than the thumb. 2. a part of a glove made to receive a finger. 3. fingerbreadth. 4. the length of a finger: approximately 4½ in. (11 cm). 5. Slang. an informer or spy. 6. something like a finger in form or use, as a projection or pointer. 7. any of various projecting parts of machines. v.t. 8. to touch with the fingers; toy or meddle with; handle. 9. a. to play on (an instrument) with the fingers. b. to perform or mark (a passage of music) with a certain fingering. 10. Slang. a. to inform against or identify (a criminal) to the authorities. b. to designate as a victim, as of murder or other crime. v.i. 11. to touch or handle something with the fingers. Idioms: 1. give someone the finger, Slang. to express contempt or indignation by extending the middle finger upward in an obscene gesture. 2. keep one’s fingers crossed, to wish for good luck or success, esp. in a specific endeavor. 3. twist or wrap around one’s (little) finger, to exert complete control over. [before 900; Middle English, Old English] fin?ger?er, n. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.fingerPast participle: fingeredGerund: fingeringImperativePresentPreteritePresent ContinuousPresent PerfectPast ContinuousPast PerfectFutureFuture PerfectFuture ContinuousPresent Perfect ContinuousFuture Perfect ContinuousPast Perfect ContinuousConditionalPast ConditionalImperativefingerfingerPresentI fingeryou fingerhe/she/it fingerswe fingeryou fingerthey fingerPreteriteI fingeredyou fingeredhe/she/it fingeredwe fingeredyou fingeredthey fingeredPresent ContinuousI am fingeringyou are fingeringhe/she/it is fingeringwe are fingeringyou are fingeringthey are fingeringPresent PerfectI have fingeredyou have fingeredhe/she/it has fingeredwe have fingeredyou have fingeredthey have fingeredPast ContinuousI was fingeringyou were fingeringhe/she/it was fingeringwe were fingeringyou were fingeringthey were fingeringPast PerfectI had fingeredyou had fingeredhe/she/it had fingeredwe had fingeredyou had fingeredthey had fingeredFutureI will fingeryou will fingerhe/she/it will fingerwe will fingeryou will fingerthey will fingerFuture PerfectI will have fingeredyou will have fingeredhe/she/it will have fingeredwe will have fingeredyou will have fingeredthey will have fingeredFuture ContinuousI will be fingeringyou will be fingeringhe/she/it will be fingeringwe will be fingeringyou will be fingeringthey will be fingeringPresent Perfect ContinuousI have been fingeringyou have been fingeringhe/she/it has been fingeringwe have been fingeringyou have been fingeringthey have been fingeringFuture Perfect ContinuousI will have been fingeringyou will have been fingeringhe/she/it will have been fingeringwe will have been fingeringyou will have been fingeringthey will have been fingeringPast Perfect ContinuousI had been fingeringyou had been fingeringhe/she/it had been fingeringwe had been fingeringyou had been fingeringthey had been fingeringConditionalI would fingeryou would fingerhe/she/it would fingerwe would fingeryou would fingerthey would fingerPast ConditionalI would have fingeredyou would have fingeredhe/she/it would have fingeredwe would have fingeredyou would have fingeredthey would have fingeredCollins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011