fingering

noun

fin·​ger·​ing ˈfiŋ-g(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce fingering (audio)
1
a
: the act or method of using the fingers in playing an instrument
b
: the marking (as by figures on a musical score) of the method of fingering
2
: the act or process of handling or touching with the fingers

Examples of fingering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There’s the fingering, there’s the picking, there’s the guitar choice, there’s the amplifier choice. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Dec. 2023 This unique vibrator mimics the feeling of fingering with an internal motor that massages your G-spot—plus an external one that brings your clit in on the fun too. Kelsey Clark, Glamour, 16 Nov. 2023 Outside of the basic kissing, touching, fingering, shallowing technique, and massaging, there are other ways to turn yourself and your partner(s) on by foreplay in the bedroom and beyond. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 14 Aug. 2023 Fireweed Mountain has a dozen fingering down its slopes. Ned Rozell | Alaska Science, Anchorage Daily News, 29 July 2023 To learn the correct fingering for piano tunes, an MMT user wears a fingerless glove that is connected, via wireless Bluetooth, to a laptop or cell phone that plays a song. Steve Nadis, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2012 The Lelo Ida Wave was designed to mimic the act of fingering, with a rounded portion that vibrates on the clit and a finger-like internal portion that moves and vibrates over the G-spot. Suzannah Weiss, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2022 That often means mastering a particular passage or effect, then demonstrating to fellow violinists the bowing technique or fingering needed to achieve it. New York Times, 14 Oct. 2021 To some critics, Mr. Simon’s clarity of phrasing and adroit fingerings were undercut by a certain shallowness. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fingering.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fingering was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near fingering

Cite this Entry

“Fingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fingering. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fingering

noun
fin·​ger·​ing
ˈfiŋ-g(ə-)riŋ
1
a
: the method of using the fingers in playing an instrument
b
: the marking on a piece of music that shows what fingers are to be used
2
: the act or process of handling or touching with fingers
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