fingertip
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈɪŋɡətˌɪp/
US
- /ˈfɪŋɡərˌtɪp/
Description
- end of a finger
- within easy reach
- ready to use
- close at hand
Your fingertip is the very end of your finger. It is the part you use to touch, feel, type, tap, and hold small things. It can also appear in the phrase "at your fingertips," which means something is easy to reach, easy to use, or ready for you right away.
We do many everyday things with this small part of the hand. We press buttons with it, scroll on screens with it, and feel the shape of things with it. That is why the word also works well in a figurative way. If facts, tools, or answers are "at your fingertips," you can use them without delay.
The fingertip is the end part of a finger, the small area you use when you touch the world around you. It is very sensitive, which is why you can feel fine details, notice heat or cold, and handle small objects with care. You use your fingertips when you button a shirt, type on a keyboard, turn a page, or test whether a surface is smooth or rough.
The word is also common in the phrase "at your fingertips." In this expression, it does not mean the body part itself. Instead, it means something is ready and easy to use. If information is at your fingertips, you can get it right away. If a skilled cook has the right tools at their fingertips, everything they need is already there. This idea of nearness and readiness is a big part of how the word is used in everyday English.
There is also a simple physical sense. You might talk about paint on your fingertips, water on your fingertips, or a paper cut on one fingertip. In these cases, the meaning is fully literal. In other cases, the word helps create a larger image: a person with the world at their fingertips has quick access to many choices, facts, or chances.
So this word moves easily between the body and daily life. It can name the tiny end of a finger, but it can also suggest easy access, control, and readiness. That is why it is such a natural word in both ordinary descriptions and common expressions.
Examples
- 1
Body
A drop of paint landed on her fingertip.
- 2
Touch
He ran his fingertips over the edge of the table.
- 3
Cold
My fingertips went numb in the cold.
- 4
Texture
She could tell from her fingertips that the fabric was real silk.
- 5
Figurative use
After years in the job, all the key details were at his fingertips.
Phrase
at your fingertips
ready to find, remember, or use immediately
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- fingertipnounadjective
Forms
- fingertipspluralnounadjective