press, move, or touch (something) with one's thumb

as soon as she thumbed the button, the door slid open

turn over (pages) with or as if with one's thumb

I've thumbed my address book and found quite a range of smaller hotels

he was thumbing throughUSA Today for the umpteenth time

request or obtain (a free ride in a passing vehicle) by signalling with one's thumb

three cars passed me and I tried to thumb a lift

he was thumbing his way across France