first hand

noun

1. the part of the human body attached to the end of the forearm, including the wrist, palm, fingers, and thumb a corresponding part in some animals; specif.,
   1. any of the four feet in apes, monkeys, etc., used like human hands for grasping and gripping
   2. the end part of the forelimb in many of the higher vertebrates
   3. the pincerlike claw of a crustacean
   a side, direction, or position indicated by one hand or the other: at one's right hand
2. the hand as an instrument for making or producing the hand as a symbol of its grasping or gripping function; specif.,
   1. possession: the documents now in his hands
   2. control; power; authority: to strengthen one's hand
   3. care; charge; supervision: in the hands of one's lawyer
   4. agency; influence: to see someone's hand in a matter
   5. an active part; share: take a hand in the work
   the hand as a symbol of promise; specif.,
   1. a clasp or handshake as a pledge of agreement, friendship, etc.
   2. a promise to marry: he asked for her hand
3. skill; ability; dexterity: the work that shows a master's hand manner of doing something: to play the piano with a light hand
4. 1. handwriting
   2. a signature
   a clapping of hands; applause: to receive a big hand for one's performance assistance; aid; help: to lend a hand
5. a person whose chief work is done with the hands, esp., one of a staff or crew, as a sailor or farm laborer a person regarded as having some special skill or characteristic: quite a hand at sewing a person (or, sometimes, thing) from or through which something comes; source [essays by several hands]: often used with an ordinal number
6. a conventional drawing of a hand () used on signposts, etc. an indicator; pointer: the hands of a clock the breadth of the human palm, used as a unit of measurement, esp. for the height of horses: now usually taken to be 4 inchesCommerce a banana cluster
7. Card Games
   1. the cards held by a player at any one time
   2. the conventional number of cards dealt to each player
   3. a player
   4. a round of play
   ☆ a small tied bundle, esp. of tobacco leaves the way cloth held in the hand feels

adjective

1. of or for the hand or hands
2. made by hand
3. controlled by hand; manual

transitive verb

1. to pass or give with or as with the hand; transfer; transmit; deliver
2. ☆ to give; provide with: it handed them a laugh
3. to help, conduct, steady, etc. by means of the hand: to hand a lady into her car
4. Naut. to furl (a sail)