thumbwheel
noun
thumb·wheel
ˈthəm-ˌ(h)wēl 
: a control for various devices consisting of a partially exposed wheel that can be turned by moving the exposed edge with a finger
Examples of thumbwheel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By default, the thumbwheel controls aperture or EV compensation, the right dial sets shutter speed or EV, and the left dial sets ISO.
—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
25 June 2026
The stereo volume control is a small thumbwheel awkwardly located to the right of the shift lever.
—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
20 July 2025
Like most e-skates, the Ranger X5 is controlled by a rechargeable handheld remote that features a thumbwheel and digital display.
—
William Roberson,
Forbes,
21 Oct. 2024
By pressing a thumbwheel on the back of that grip, the user can rotate the clamp/phone between landscape and portrait orientations.
—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
11 Sep. 2024
Next, turn the thumb wheel above the bar forward to tighten the chain; turn the thumbwheel back to release tension on it.
—
Roy Berendsohn,
Popular Mechanics,
30 Nov. 2022
In Track mode, dialed in by Porsche's familiar drive mode controller, this very special 911 is the first of its kind to invite you to tweak compression and rebound of the front and rear dampers via the PASM thumbwheel.
—
Georg Kacher,
Car and Driver,
4 Oct. 2022
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Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
25 June 2026
The stereo volume control is a small thumbwheel awkwardly located to the right of the shift lever.
—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
20 July 2025
Like most e-skates, the Ranger X5 is controlled by a rechargeable handheld remote that features a thumbwheel and digital display.
—
William Roberson,
Forbes,
21 Oct. 2024
By pressing a thumbwheel on the back of that grip, the user can rotate the clamp/phone between landscape and portrait orientations.
—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
11 Sep. 2024
Next, turn the thumb wheel above the bar forward to tighten the chain; turn the thumbwheel back to release tension on it.
—
Roy Berendsohn,
Popular Mechanics,
30 Nov. 2022
In Track mode, dialed in by Porsche's familiar drive mode controller, this very special 911 is the first of its kind to invite you to tweak compression and rebound of the front and rear dampers via the PASM thumbwheel.
—
Georg Kacher,
Car and Driver,
4 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Thumbwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thumbwheel. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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