Thumbnail vs. Thumbtack — What's the Difference?

Thumbnails (/ˈθʌmneɪl/) are reduced-size versions of pictures or videos, used to help in recognizing and organizing them, serving the same role for images as a normal text index does for words. In the age of digital images, visual search engines and image-organizing programs normally use thumbnails, as do most modern operating systems or desktop environments, such as Microsoft Windows, macOS, KDE (Linux) and GNOME (Linux).

A short flat-headed pin, used for fastening paper to a wall or other surface; a drawing pin.

The nail of the thumb.

A tack with a smooth, rounded head that can be pressed into place with the thumb.

(Computers) An image of a graphic or document that is reduced in size so that it serves as an icon of a larger image. This allows multiple images to be viewed on a screen simultaneously or to be transmitted more rapidly.

To affix with a thumbtack.

Of, relating to, or of the size of a thumbnail.

(North America) A small nail-like tack with a slightly rounded head that can be pressed into place with light pressure from the thumb; used for hanging light articles on a wall or noticeboard.

Greatly reduced or limited in scale or scope

(transitive) To fix or attach something with a thumbtack.

To generate a reduced size image of (a graphic or document).

A tack for attaching papers to a bulletin board or drawing board

The fingernail on the thumb.

Fasten with thumbtacks;

A rough sketch (e.g., the size of one's thumbnail).

A small picture, used as a compact representation of a larger image.

(transitive) To describe concisely.

To create a smaller representation of (a larger image).

The nail of the thumb