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    finger

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    finger
    I
    fin‧ger1 S2 W2 /ˈfɪŋɡə $ -ər/ noun [countable]
     Language: Old English

    1.  PART OF YOUR HAND one of the four long thin parts on your hand, not including your thumb:
        The woman had a ring on her finger, so I assumed she was married.
        We ate with our fingers.
        run your fingers through/over/along etc something
        She ran her fingers through his hair. ⇨ index finger, little finger, forefinger, middle finger, ring finger
    2. cross your fingers
      a. to hope that something will happen the way you want:
        We’re keeping our fingers crossed that she’s going to be OK.
      b. to secretly put one finger over another finger, because you are telling a lie – done especially by children:
        ‘He’s nice,’ said Laura, crossing her fingers under the table.
    3. not lift/raise a finger to not make any effort to help someone with their work:
        I do all the work around the house – Frank never lifts a finger.
    4. put your finger on something to know or be able to explain exactly what is wrong, different, or unusual about a situation:
        There was something about the man that worried Wycliffe, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
    5. not lay a finger on somebody to not hurt someone at all, especially to not hit them:
        Don’t lay a finger on me, or I’ll call the police__
    6. have/keep your finger on the pulse (of something) to always know about the most recent changes or developments in a particular situation or activity:
        people who have their finger on the pulse of fashion and pop culture
    7. have a finger in every pie/ in many pies to be involved in many activities and to have influence over a lot of people, used especially when you think someone has too much influence
    8. twist/wrap/wind somebody around your little finger to be able to persuade someone to do anything that you want:
        Ed could wrap his mother around his little finger.
    9. the finger of blame/suspicion:
        The finger of suspicion immediately fell on Broderick.
    10.  OF A GLOVE the part of a glove that covers your finger
    11.  SHAPED LIKE A FINGER anything that is long and thin, like the shape of a finger, especially a piece of land, an area of water, or a piece of food:
        fish fingers
        chocolate fingers
        finger of
        the long finger of Chile
    12. pull/get your finger out British English informal used to tell someone to work harder
    13. put two fingers up at somebody British English informal to show someone you are angry with them in a very offensive way by holding up your first two fingers with the back of your hand facing them
    14. give somebody the finger American English informal to show someone you are angry with them in a very offensive way by holding up your middle finger with the back of your hand facing them
    15. be all fingers and thumbs British English to use your hands in an awkward or careless way, so that you drop or break things
    16. long-fingered/slim-fingered etc having long fingers, slim fingers etc:
        lovely long-fingered hands
    17.  DRINK an amount of an alcoholic drink that is as high in the glass as the width of someone’s finger:
        two fingers of whiskey
    ⇨ butterfingers, fish finger, ⇨ have your hands/fingers in the till at till2(3), ⇨ count something on the fingers of one hand at count1(7), ⇨ have green fingers at green1(10), ⇨ burn your fingers/get your fingers burnt at burn1(16), ⇨ point the/a finger at somebody at point2(9), ⇨ let something slip through your fingers at slip1(15), ⇨ snap your fingers at snap1(7), ⇨ have sticky fingers at sticky(6), ⇨ work your fingers to the bone at work1(29)

    II
    finger2 verb [transitive]
    1. to touch or handle something with your fingers:
        She fingered the beautiful cloth.
    2. informal if someone, especially a criminal, fingers another criminal, they tell the police what that person has done
         
    THESAURUS
       ▪ touch to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something for a very short time: Don’t touch the iron – it’s hot!
       ▪ feel to touch something with your fingers in order to find out about it: Feel how soft this material is. | I felt his forehead. It was cold.
       ▪ handle to touch something and pick it up and hold it in your hands: Children should always wash their hands before handling food. | The glass was very fragile, and she handled it with great care. | Please do not handle the merchandise.
       ▪ finger to touch or handle something with your fingers, especially while you are thinking of other things: She fingered the heavy necklace around her neck.
       ▪ rub to move your hand over a surface while pressing it: Bob rubbed his eyes and yawned.
       ▪ scratch to rub part of your body with your nails, often because it ITCHES: The dog kept scratching its ear. | Bob scratched his head thoughtfully.
       ▪ tickle to move your fingers lightly over someone’s body in order to make them laugh: The baby giggled as I tickled him.
       ▪ grope to touch someone’s body in a sexual way when they do not want to be touched: The officer was accused of groping several women in his platoon.