Hand (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. the terminal, prehensile part of the upper limb in humans and other primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpal area, fingers, and thumb.
  2. the terminal part of the forelimb in any of the higher vertebrates.
  3. a terminal prehensile part, as the chela of a crustacean, or, in falconry, the foot of a falcon.
  4. something resembling a hand in shape or function, as various types of pointers: the hands of a clock.
  5. index (def. 8).
  6. a person employed in manual labor or for general duties; worker; laborer: a factory hand;a ranch hand.
  7. a person who performs or is capable of performing a specific work, skill, or action: She's a real hand at geometry.
  8. characteristic touch; skill; workmanship: It's rare to find a painting that shows a master's hand as clearly as this one.
  9. a person, with reference to ability or skill: He was a poor hand at running a business.
  10. a member of a ship's crew: The ship had an able skipper and eight good hands.
  11. possession or power; control, custody, or care: It's a great responsibility to have someone's fate in your hands.
  12. a position, especially one of control, used for bargaining, negotiating, etc.: We must take action to strengthen our hand.
  13. means; agency; instrumentality: The coroner ruled that the death was by his own hand.
  14. active participation or cooperation; assistance; aid: Give me a hand with this ladder.
  15. side; direction: There's no traffic on either hand of the road.
  16. style of handwriting; penmanship: She wrote in a beautiful hand.
  17. a person's signature: to set one's hand to a document.
  18. a round or outburst of applause for a performer: Let's all give a hand to the star of the show!
  19. a promise or pledge, as of marriage: He asked for her hand in marriage.
  20. a linear measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used especially in determining the height of horses.
  21. Cards.
    • the cards dealt to or held by each player at one time.
    • the person holding the cards.
    • a single part of a game, in which all the cards dealt at one time are played.
  22. manus (def. 2).
  23. skill at manipulating the reins of a horse: To ride well, one must have good hands.
  24. a bunch, cluster, or bundle of various leaves, fruit, etc., as a bundle of tobacco leaves tied together or a cluster of bananas.
  25. the deviation of a thread or tooth from the axial direction of a screw or gear, as seen from one end looking away toward the other.
  26. Building Trades.
    • the position of the hinges of a door, in terms of right and left, as seen from outside the building, room, closet, etc., to which the doorway leads.
    • the position of the hinges of a casement sash, in terms of right and left, from inside the window.
  27. the fabric properties that can be sensed by touching the material, as resilience, smoothness, or body: the smooth hand of satin.
  28. a person considered as a source, as of information or of supply.
verb (used with object)
  1. to deliver or pass with or as if with the hand.
  2. to help, assist, guide, etc., with the hand: He handed the elderly woman across the street.
  3. Nautical.
    • to take in or furl (a sail).
    • to haul on or otherwise handle.
adjective
  1. of, belonging to, using, or used by the hand.
  2. made by hand.
  3. carried in or worn on the hand.
  4. operated by hand; manual: a hand brake.
Verb Phrases
  1. hand down,
    • to deliver (the decision of a court): The jury handed down a verdict of guilty.
    • to transmit from one to another, especially to bequeath to posterity: The ring had been handed down from her grandmother.
  2. to submit; present for acceptance: She handed in her term paper after the deadline.He handed his resignation in yesterday.
  3. to hand the ball to a member of one's team in the course of a play.
  4. to transmit; pass on to a successor, posterity, etc.: The silver service was handed on to the eldest daughter of the family.
  5. to give or distribute; pass out: People were handing out leaflets on every corner.
  6. hand over,
    • to deliver into the custody of another: Hand your wallet over now!
    • to surrender control of: He handed over his business to his children.
Idioms
  1. See entry at all hands on deck.
  2. firsthand (def. 1).
  3. at hand,
    • within reach; nearby; close by.
    • near in time; soon.
    • ready for use: We keep a supply of canned goods at hand.
  4. second hand (def. 3).
  5. by the action of; through the agency of: They suffered at the hands of their stepfather.
  6. by using the hands, as opposed to machines; manually: lace made by hand.
  7. to pass from one owner to another; change possession: The property has changed hands several times in recent years.
  8. come to hand,
    • to come within one's reach or notice: He was moved to tears when his father's old journal came to hand.
    • to be received; arrive: The spring stock came to hand last week.
  9. to be totally submissive to another; be very attentive or servile: That spoiled brat has her parents eating out of her hand.
  10. to prompt a person to take immediate action or to reveal their intentions: The criticism forced the governor's hand so that he had to declare his support of the tax bill.
  11. from one person to another; through successive ownership or possession: The legendary jewel went from hand to hand.
  12. improvidently; precariously; with nothing in reserve: They looked forward to a time when they would no longer have to live from hand to mouth.
  13. to give one's word; seal a bargain by or as if by shaking hands: He said the goods would be delivered within a month and gave them his hand on it.
  14. hand and foot,
    • so as to hinder movement: They tied him hand and foot.
    • slavishly and continually: Cinderella had to wait on her stepsisters hand and foot.
  15. very intimately associated: Several high-ranking diplomats were found to be hand and glove with enemy agents.
  16. hand in hand,
    • with one's hand enclasped in that of another person.
    • closely associated; concurrently; conjointly: Doctors and nurses work hand in hand to save lives.
  17. cash1 (def. 7).
  18. to give just credit to; pay respect to: You have to hand it to her for getting the work out.
  19. speedily; increasingly: He owns a chain of restaurants and makes money hand over fist.
  20. hands down,
    • effortlessly; easily: He won the championship hands down.
    • indisputably; incontestably: It was hands down the best race I've ever seen.
  21. don't touch, strike, or interfere! keep away from!: Hands off my laptop!
  22. hold your hands above your head! give up!
  23. in direct combat; at close quarters: The troops fought hand to hand.
  24. to have a share in; participate in: It is impossible that she could have had a hand in this notorious crime.
  25. to have a large or excessive amount of work to handle; be constantly busy: The personnel department has its hands full trying to process the growing number of applications.
  26. to join hands with another person as a token of affection: They have been seen holding hands in public.
  27. in hand,
    • under control: He kept the situation well in hand.
    • in one's possession: cash in hand.
    • in the process of consideration or settlement: regarding the matter in hand.
  28. to unite in a common cause; combine: The democracies must join hands in order to survive.
  29. to continue to practice: He turned the business over to his sons, but he keeps his hand in it.I just play enough golf to keep my hand in.
  30. lay one's hands on,
    • to obtain; acquire: I wish I could lay my hands on a good used piano.
    • to seize, especially in order to punish: He wanted to lay his hands on the person who had backed into his car.
    • to impose the hands in a ceremonial fashion, as in ordination: The bishop laid hands on the candidates.
  31. to lend assistance; help out: Lend a hand and we'll finish the job in no time.
  32. to exert any effort: She wouldn't lift a hand to help anyone.
  33. off one's hands,
    • out of one's charge or care: Now, with their children grown and off their hands, they will be free to travel.
    • successfully completed; finished: The lawyer planned a vacation as soon as the case was off his hands.
  34. on all hands,
    • by everyone; universally: It was decided on all hands to take an excursion.
    • on every side; all around: piercing glances on all hands.
  35. on hand,
    • in one's possession; at one's disposal: cash on hand.
    • about to occur; imminent: A change of government may be on hand.
    • present1 (def. 4): There were not enough members on hand to constitute a quorum.
  36. from another side or aspect; conversely: It was an unfortunate experience, but, on the other hand, one can learn from one's mistakes.
  37. under one's care or management; as one's responsibility: He was left with a large surplus on his hands.
  38. out of hand,
    • beyond control: to let one's temper get out of hand.
    • without delay; at once: The crisis obliged him to act out of hand.
    • no longer in process; finished: The case has been out of hand for some time.
    • without consideration or deliberation: to reject a proposal out of hand.
  39. to clasp another's hand in greeting, congratulation, or agreement: They shook hands on the proposed partnership.
  40. to disclose or display one's true intentions or motives: The impending revolution forced him to show his hand.
  41. sit on one's hands,
    • to be unenthusiastic or unappreciative; fail to applaud: It was a lively show, but the audience sat on its hands.
    • to take no action; be passive or hesitant: While he was being beaten, the others sat on their hands.
  42. to take part in; participate in: If the strike continues, the government will have to take a hand in the negotiations.
  43. take in hand,
    • to undertake responsibility for; assume charge: When both parents died, an uncle took the youngster in hand.
    • to deal with; treat of: We'll take the matter in hand at the next meeting.
  44. to admit one's inadequacy, exasperation, or failure; despair: When the general received reports of an enemy build-up, he threw up his hands.
  45. to render one powerless to act; thwart: The provisions of the will tied his hands.
  46. to reveal one's plans or intentions before the propitious time.
  47. to hand,
    • within reach; accessible or nearby.
    • into one's possession: A search of the attic brought some valuable antiques to hand.
  48. to test one's skill or aptitude for: After becoming a successful painter, he decided to try his hand at sculpture.
  49. to set to work at; busy oneself with: He turned his hand successfully to gardening.
  50. to disclaim any further responsibility for; renounce interest in or support of: I washed my hands of the entire affair.
  51. with a heavy hand,
    • with severity; oppressively: The law will punish offenders with a heavy hand.
    • in a clumsy manner; awkwardly; gracelessly: The play was directed with a heavy hand.
  52. in an arrogant or dictatorial manner; arbitrarily: He ran the organization with a high hand.
noun
  1. U.S. jurist.
noun
    • the prehensile part of the body at the end of the arm, consisting of a thumb, four fingers, and a palm
    • the bones of this part
  1. the corresponding or similar part in animals
  2. something resembling this in shape or function
    • the cards dealt to one or all players in one round of a card game
    • a player holding such cards
    • one round of a card game
  3. agency or influence
  4. a part in something done
  5. assistance
  6. a pointer on a dial, indicator, or gauge, esp on a clock
  7. acceptance or pledge of partnership, as in marriage
  8. a position or direction indicated by its location to the side of an object or the observer
  9. a contrastive aspect, condition, etc (in the phrases on the one hand, on the other hand)
  10. (preceded by an ordinal number) source or origin
  11. a person, esp one who creates something
  12. a labourer or manual worker
  13. a member of a ship's crew
  14. printing another name for index (def. 9)
  15. a person's handwriting
  16. a round of applause
  17. ability or skill
  18. a manner or characteristic way of doing something
  19. a unit of length measurement equalling four inches, used for measuring the height of horses, usually from the front hoof to the withers
  20. a cluster or bundle, esp of bananas
  21. a shoulder of pork
  22. one of the two possible mirror-image forms of an asymmetric object, such as the direction of the helix in a screw thread
  23. freedom to do as desired
  24. a small amount of work
  25. tyranny, persecution, or oppression
  26. an oppressive or dictatorial manner
  27. very near or close, esp in time
  28. from
  29. by hand
    • by manual rather than mechanical means
    • by messenger or personally
  30. to become available; be received
  31. to force someone to act
  32. from one person to another
  33. from hand to mouth
    • in poverty
    • without preparation or planning
  34. in all ways possible; completely
  35. in an intimate relationship or close association
  36. hand in hand
    • together; jointly
    • clasping each other's hands
  37. steadily and quickly; with rapid progress
  38. to stop or postpone a planned action or punishment
  39. to support, help, or guide someone, esp by giving sympathy or moral support
  40. in hand
    • in possession
    • under control
    • receiving attention or being acted on
    • available for use; in reserve
    • with deferred payment
  41. to continue or practise
  42. to help
  43. close by; present
  44. out of hand
    • beyond control
    • without reservation or deeper examination
  45. set one's hand to
    • to sign (a document)
    • to start (a task or undertaking)
  46. to reveal one's stand, opinion, or plans
  47. to discipline; control
  48. throw one's hand in See throw in (def. 3)
  49. accessible
  50. to attempt to do something
  51. (modifier)
    • of or involving the hand
    • made to be carried in or worn on the hand
    • operated by hand
  52. made by hand rather than by a machine
verb (tr)
  1. to transmit or offer by the hand or hands
  2. to help or lead with the hand
  3. to furl (a sail)
  4. to give credit to someone
abbreviation for
  1. have a nice day
Hand (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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