- the nail of the thumb
- a small image which can be expanded
- (modifier) concise and brief: a thumbnail sketch
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
thumb•nail /ˈθʌmˌneɪl/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the nail of the thumb.
adj.
- brief;
very short:Give me a thumbnail sketch of the man.
thumb•nail
(thum′nāl′),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
v.t.
- the nail of the thumb.
- anything quite small or brief, as a small drawing or short essay.
- Printinga small, rough dummy.
- Printing, JournalismAlso called porkchop. [Journ., Print.]a half-column portrait in a newspaper.
adj.
- quite small or brief;
concise:a thumbnail description of Corsica.
v.t.
- to make a thumbnail sketch or description of.
- thumb + nail 1595–1605
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
thumbnail /ˈθʌmˌneɪl/ n
'thumbnail' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):