fingerprint
fingerprint Lexical Profile
fingerprint Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An impression or mark made on a surface by the ridges on the tip of a person's finger, especially as used for identifying individuals.
"The technician dusted the glass doorknob and lifted a clear fingerprint."
A distinctive identifying characteristic, pattern, or signature that uniquely reveals the origin or nature of something, such as a chemical sample or digital file.
"Each star emits a unique spectral fingerprint that tells astronomers which elements it contains."
• verb
To record the impressions of the fingertips of a person, typically for security clearance or identification.
"All new applicants must be fingerprinted as part of the standard background check."
To analyze and identify the unique genetic, chemical, or digital characteristics of a sample or system.
"Researchers fingerprinted the bacterial strain to trace the source of the contamination."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-19th century as a compound of 'finger' (from Old English 'finger') and 'print' (from Old French 'priente', meaning impression), gaining widespread recognition through Sir Francis Galton's 1892 forensic treatise 'Finger Prints'.