Definition of "fingerprint" []

• An impression on a surface of the curves formed by the ridges on a fingertip, especially such an impression made in ink and used as a means of identification. (noun)
• A distinctive or identifying mark or characteristic: "the invisible fingerprint that's used on labels and packaging to sort out genuine products from counterfeits” ( Gene G. Marcial). (noun)
• A DNA fingerprint. (noun)
• A chemical fingerprint. (noun)
• To take the fingerprints of. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "I think what we have to wait and look for is what we call a fingerprint on the type of device that was used."
• "PAT D'AMURO, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Well, at this point, they're looking to try to find what we call a fingerprint as to who could have constructed this device, taking a look at what type of material was used."
• "So in the case of the telco example: they look at every single customer uniquely, and look at what they call a fingerprint-and then look at every single fingerprint on the network, and there are billions of these fingerprints, and do that all in real time-while it's happening."