fingerprint
This term evokes a sense of absolute uniqueness and forensic precision. In its literal sense, it refers to the biological markers used in criminal investigations to link a specific individual to a physical location or object.
When used figuratively or technically, it describes a distinctive signature or a digital hash that serves as a proxy for identity. It implies a level of specificity that makes an entity distinguishable from all others in a large set, whether that be a writer's style or a computer's hardware configuration.
Meanings
The unique pattern of ridges and furrows on the tip of a human finger.
The police found a clear fingerprint on the glass.
A unique identifier or digital signature used to identify a specific piece of data, a device, or a user in computing.
The software uses a browser fingerprint to track users without cookies.
To take an impression of a person's fingertips for identification purposes.
The suspect was fingerprinted immediately after his arrest.
Examples
This is a fingerprint.
Ancient laws did not include fingerprinting for identification.
Phrasal Verbs
fingerprint for
to take fingerprints for a specific purpose or requirement
The new employees were fingerprinted for their security clearances.