noun
thumbtack
THUM-tak
Thumbtack (noun) means a small tack with a slightly rounded head, pressed into place with the thumb to hold light items on a wall or noticeboard. Example: “She pinned the poster up with a thumbtack in each corner.”
noun
1
A small tack with a slightly rounded head, pressed into place with the thumb to hold light items on a wall or noticeboard.
"She pinned the poster up with a thumbtack in each corner."
"There was a thumbtack on the floor, point up."
"He kept a box of thumbtacks in the desk drawer."
verb
1
To fix something in place with a thumbtack.
"She thumbtacked the notice to the board."
"He thumbtacked the map above his desk."
"The flyers were thumbtacked to the door."
How to use thumbtack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small pin you push in with your thumb to hang things up.
When to use it
It is the everyday word in Canada and the US.
Common pairings
thumbtack a notice
box of thumbtacks
pin up with a thumbtack
thumbtack to the wall
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Etymology
It is a compound of the English words thumb and tack, named for being pushed in with the thumb.
Synonyms
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drawing pin
pushpin
Frequently asked questions
What is a thumbtack?
It is a small tack with a rounded head that you push into a wall or noticeboard with your thumb. It holds up light items such as notices.
What is a thumbtack called in British English?
The usual British term is drawing pin.
Is a thumbtack the same as a pushpin?
They are closely related, and dictionaries treat pushpin as a coordinate term rather than a synonym.
What is the meaning of thumbtack?
"thumbtack" (noun) means a small tack with a slightly rounded head, pressed into place with the thumb to hold light items on a wall or noticeboard.
