fin|ger ◆◆◇ /f I ŋgə r / (fingers , fingering , fingered )
1 N‑COUNT Your fingers are the four long thin parts at the end of each hand. □ She suddenly held up a small, bony finger and pointed across the room. □ She ran her fingers through her hair. □ There was a ring on each of his fingers.
2 → see also light-fingered
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The fingers of a glove are the parts that a person's fingers fit into.
4 N‑COUNT [n N ] A finger of something such as smoke or land is an amount of it that is shaped rather like a finger. □ [+ of ] …a thin finger of land that separates Pakistan from the former Soviet Union. □ Cover the base with a single layer of sponge fingers.
5 → see also fish finger
6 VERB If you finger something, you touch or feel it with your fingers. □ [V n] He fingered the few coins in his pocket. □ [V n] Self-consciously she fingered the emeralds at her throat.
7 PHRASE If you get your fingers burned or burn your fingers , you suffer because something you did or were involved in was a failure or a mistake. □ He has had his fingers burnt by deals that turned out badly. □ Mr Walesa burned his fingers by promising he would give every Pole 100m zlotys to start a business.
8 PHRASE If you cross your fingers , you put one finger on top of another and hope for good luck. If you say that someone is keeping their fingers crossed , you mean they are hoping for good luck. □ I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they turn up soon.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone did not lay a finger on a particular person or thing, you are emphasizing that they did not touch or harm them at all. [EMPHASIS ] □ I must make it clear I never laid a finger on her.
10 PHRASE If you say that a person does not lift a finger or raise a finger to do something, especially to help someone, you are critical of them because they do nothing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She never lifted a finger around the house. □ They will not lift a finger to help their country.
11 PHRASE If you point the finger at someone or point an accusing finger at someone, you blame them or accuse them of doing wrong. □ He said he wasn't pointing an accusing finger at anyone in the government or the army.
12 PHRASE If you tell someone to pull their finger out or to get their finger out , you are telling them rudely that you want them to start doing some work or making an effort. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Isn't it about time that you pulled your finger out?
13 PHRASE If you put your finger on something, for example a reason or problem, you see and identify exactly what it is. □ He could never quite put his finger on who or what was responsible for all this.
14 PHRASE If someone or something slips through your fingers , you just fail to catch them, get them, or keep them. □ Money has slipped through his fingers all his life. □ You mustn't allow this golden opportunity to slip through your fingers.
15 to have green fingers → see green
16 finger on the pulse → see pulse
fin|ger|ing /f I ŋgər I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Fingering is the method of using the most suitable finger to play each note when you are playing a musical instrument, especially the piano.
finger|mark /f I ŋgə r mɑː r k/ (fingermarks ) N‑COUNT A fingermark is a mark which is made when someone puts a dirty or oily finger onto a clean surface.
finger|nail /f I ŋgə r ne I l/ (fingernails ) also finger-nail N‑COUNT Your fingernails are the thin hard areas at the end of each of your fingers.
finger|print /f I ŋgə r pr I nt/ (fingerprints , fingerprinting , fingerprinted )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Fingerprints are marks made by a person's fingers which show the lines on the skin. Everyone's fingerprints are different, so they can be used to identify criminals. □ The detective discovered no fewer than 35 fingerprints. ● PHRASE If the police take someone's fingerprints , they make that person press their fingers onto a pad covered with ink, and then onto paper, so that they know what that person's fingerprints look like. □ They were photographed and had their fingerprints taken.
2 VERB [usu passive] If someone is fingerprinted , the police take their fingerprints. □ [be V -ed] He took her to jail, where she was fingerprinted and booked.
finger|tip /f I ŋgə r t I p/ (fingertips ) also finger-tip
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your fingertips are the ends of your fingers. □ The fat and flour are rubbed together with the fingertips as for pastry.
2 PHRASE If you say that something is at your fingertips , you approve of the fact that you can reach it easily or that it is easily available to you. [APPROVAL ] □ I had the information at my fingertips and hadn't used it.
fi nger|tip sea rch (fingertip searches ) N‑COUNT When the police carry out a fingertip search of a place, they examine it for evidence in a very detailed way. □ [+ of ] Officers continued a fingertip search of the area yesterday.
fin|icky /f I n I ki/ ADJ If you say that someone is finicky , you mean that they are worried about small details and are difficult to please. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Even the most finicky eater will find something appetizing here.
fin|ish ◆◆◇ /f I n I ʃ/ (finishes , finishing , finished )