fingering

[fing-ger-ing] /ˈfɪŋ gər ɪŋ/
noun
1.
the act of a person who fingers.
2.
Music.
  1. the action or method of using the fingers in playing on an instrument.
  2. the indication of the way the fingers are to be used in performing a piece of music.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English; see finger, -ing1

finger

[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.
  1. to play on (an instrument) with the fingers.
  2. to perform or mark (a passage of music) with a certain fingering.
12.
Slang.
  1. to inform against or identify (a criminal) to the authorities:
    He fingered the man who robbed the bank.
  2. to designate as a victim, as of murder or other crime.
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,
  1. to have an interest or share in something.
  2. to meddle in something.
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,
  1. to indicate exactly; remember:
    I know the name, but I can't put my finger on it.
  2. to discover; locate:
    I haven't been able to lay my finger on the book you requested.
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. finger (def 12).
22.
slip through one's fingers,
  1. to elude one, as an opportunity not taken; escape:
    She let the chance of a lifetime slip through her fingers.
  2. to pass or be consumed quickly:
    Money just slips through his 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.
Origin
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German Finger, Dutch vinger, Old Norse fingr, Gothic figgrs
Related forms
fingerer, noun
fingerless, adjective
refinger, verb
Examples from the web for fingering
  • Your dog knows in a sniff if you have been cavorting with the despised feline next door or fingering his favorite treats.
  • Being left-handed, she learned to do her fingering upside down.
  • Alas, watching the keys provides no clues to his fingering.
  • Now ground and air can simply confirm they are fingering the same building on their tablet and fire.
  • His busy hands rake through the winter- coat racks, expertly fingering the fabric as he examines the labels and checks the prices.
  • Those have had a patchy and controversial history, fingering nervous innocents while acquitting practised liars.
  • Glove fingering was observed in all recovered bolts to various degrees.
  • Student reads and performs grade level appropriate notes only when the notes are marked with letter names or fingering.
  • Frequent wrist bending and fingering to fan the paper or signature for inserting.
British Dictionary definitions for fingering

fingering1

/ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ/
noun
1.
the technique or art of using one's fingers in playing a musical instrument, esp the piano
2.
the numerals in a musical part indicating this

fingering2

/ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ/
noun
1.
fine wool for knitting
Word Origin
C17: from earlier fingram, perhaps from Old French fin grain fine grain

finger

/ˈfɪŋɡə/
noun
1.
  1. any of the digits of the hand, often excluding the thumb Technical name digitus manus
  2. (as modifier): a finger bowl
  3. (in combination): a fingernail, related adjective digital
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
  1. to have an interest in or take part in some activity
  2. to meddle or interfere
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
  1. to inform on or identify, esp for the police
  2. 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 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
Derived Forms
fingerer, noun
fingerless, adjective
Word Origin
Old English; related to Old Norse fingr, Gothic figgrs, Old High German fingar; see five, fist
Word Origin and History for fingering
n.

"action of using the fingers in playing a musical instrument," late 14c., fyngerynge, from finger (n.).

"fine woolen yarn," from fingram, from French fin grain, literally "fine grain."

finger

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.

fingering in Medicine

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

Slang definitions & phrases for fingering

finger

noun
  1. A police informer; stool pigeon (1930s+ Underworld)
  2. A person who tells thieves about potential loot (1920s+ Underworld)
  3. About a half-inch of liquor in a glass: Maybe I'd better have another finger of the hooch (1856+)
verb
  1. To locate and point out someone: You're the guy that fingered Manny Tinnen/ artificially heightening the tale's drama (by fingering the sponsor) (1920s+ Underworld)
  2. To tell thieves about the location, value, etc, of potential loot: I fingered the robberies (1920s+ Underworld)
  3. To insert a finger into the vulva; fingerfuck: With one hand Larry was fingering me (1970s+)
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


Idioms and Phrases with fingering

finger

In addition to the idiom beginning with
finger
also see: