Handle Definition

hăndl

handled, handles, handling

verb

handled, handles, handling

To respond or submit to control.

The car handles well.

Webster's New World

To touch, lift, etc. with the hand or hands.

Webster's New World

To manage, operate, or use with the hand or hands; manipulate.

Webster's New World

To manage, control, direct, train, etc.

Webster's New World

To cope with or dispose of.

Handles problems efficiently.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

handles

That part of a utensil, tool, etc. which is to be held, turned, lifted, pulled, etc. with the hand.

Webster's New World

A means of understanding or control.

Has a handle on the situation.

American Heritage

A thing like a handle in appearance or use.

Webster's New World

A person's name, nickname, or title.

Webster's New World

An alternate name or nickname, especially one chosen for self-identification on online forums or citizens band radio.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
head
blade

idiom

handle (oneself)

To conduct oneself in a specified manner:
handled herself well in the interview.
To be able to defend oneself or fend for oneself:
Don't worry about me. I can handle myself.

American Heritage

fly off the handle

to become suddenly or violently angry or excited

Webster's New World

get a handle on

to find a means of dealing with, understanding, etc.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Handle

Noun

Singular:

handle

Plural:

handles

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Handle

Origin of Handle

From Middle English handlen, from Old English handlian (“to handle, feel, deal with, discuss”), from Proto-Germanic *handlōną (“to take, grip, feel”), equivalent to hand +‎ -le. Cognate with West Frisian hanneljen, hanljen (“to handle, treat”), Dutch handelen (“to handle, deal, act, negotiate”), German handeln (“to act, trade, negotiate, behave”), Swedish handla (“to buy, trade, deal”), Icelandic höndla (“to handle”).

From Wiktionary
From Middle English handel, handle, from Old English handle (“a handle”), from handlian (“to handle, feel, deal with, discuss”). See verb below. Cognate with Danish handel (“a handle”).

From Wiktionary
Originally Cornish-American, from Cornish hanough (“name”), later hanow (pronounced han'of or han'o).

From Wiktionary
Middle English handelen from Old English handlian

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition