thumbtack

English

A brass thumbtack

Etymology

thumb + tack

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈθʌm.tæk/

Noun

thumbtack (plural thumbtacks)

  1. (Canada, US) A small nail-like tack with a slightly rounded head that can be pressed into place with light pressure from the thumb; used for hanging light articles on a wall or noticeboard.
    Synonym: (British) drawing pin
    Coordinate term: pushpin
    • 2016 June 10, BlocBoy JB (lyrics and music), “No Chorus, Pt. 5”, in Who Am I, 1:20–1:27:
      You say that I'm broke my nigga, how is that?
      Bitch I'm stickin to this paper like a thumbtack

Translations

Verb

thumbtack (third-person singular simple present thumbtacks, present participle thumbtacking, simple past and past participle thumbtacked)

  1. (transitive) To fix or attach something with a thumbtack.
    • 1988, Edmund White, chapter 1, in The Beautiful Room is Empty, New York: Vintage International, published 1994:
      On the particle-board partition that separated his cubicle from the next, Paul had thumbtacked things that might inspire him []

Translations

Further reading

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