thumbnail
/ˈθʌm.neɪl/ noun, verb
Forms thumbnails thumbnailing thumbnailed
- noun The fingernail on the thumb.
- noun A rough sketch (e.g., the size of one's thumbnail).
- noun (chiefly computing) A small picture, used as a compact representation of a larger image.
- noun (social media) A small picture representing a post or a video in a list.
- verb (transitive) To describe concisely.
- verb (transitive, computing) To create a smaller representation of (a larger image).
Etymology
From thumb + nail. Compare West Frisian tommeneil (“thumbnail”), Dutch duimnagel (“thumbnail”), German Daumennagel (“thumbnail”).
The phrase thumbnail sketch was first attested 1852. Verb sense attested 1930s.
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “thumbnail”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details