hand Definition
hand (hand)
noun
Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Goth handus < base of -hinthan, to seize (hence, basic sense “grasper”) < ? IE base *kent-, ? to seize
adjective
- of or for the hand or hands
- made by hand
- controlled by hand; manual
transitive verb
- to pass or give with or as with the hand; transfer; transmit; deliver
- ☆ to give; provide with it handed them a laugh
- to help, conduct, steady, etc. by means of the hand to hand a lady into her car
- Naut. to furl (a sail)
hand Idioms
(at) first hand
from the original source; directly
at hand
- near; close by
- immediately available
(at) second hand
- not from the original source; indirectly
- not new; previously used
at the hand of
or at the hands ofthrough the action of
by hand
not by machines but with the hands
change hands
to pass from one owner to another
eat out of someone's hand
to be completely dominated by or devoted to someone
force someone's hand
Etymology: orig. a whist term
to force someone to act, or declare intentions, before he or she is ready
from hand to hand
from one person's possession to another's
from hand to mouth
with just enough for immediate needs and nothing left over for the future
hand and foot
- so that the hands and feet cannot move bound hand and foot
- constantly and diligently to wait on someone hand and foot
hand down
- to give as an inheritance; bequeath
- ☆ to announce or deliver (a verdict, etc.)
hand in
to give; submit
hand in glove
or hand and glovein intimate association; in close agreement or cooperation
hand in hand
- holding each other's hand
- together; in cooperation or correlation
hand it to
☆Slang to give deserved credit to
hand off
Sports to hand (the ball) to a teammate during a play
hand on
to pass along; transmit
hand out
to distribute; deal out
hand over
to give up; deliver
hand over fist
Informal easily and in large amounts
hands down
without effort; easily
hands off!
don't touch!don't interfere!
hands up!
☆ raise your hands over your head!: an order given by a person pointing a gun, etc.
hand to hand
at close quarters: said of fighting
hand up
to present (an indictment) to a court: said of a grand jury
have one's hands full
to be extremely busy; be doing as much as one can
hold hands
to hold each other's hand, esp. in affection
in hand
- in order or control
- in possession
- being worked on; in process
join hands
- to become associates; enter into partnership
- to become husband and wife
keep one's hand in
to keep in practice in order to retain one's skill
lay hands on
- to attack, injure, or punish physically
- to get hold of; seize; take
- to place the hands on ceremonially, as in blessing or ordaining
not lift a hand
to do nothing; not even try
off one's hands
no longer in one's care; out of one's responsibility
on every hand
on all sides; in all directions
on hand
- near
- ☆ available or ready
- ☆ present
on one's hands
in one's care; being one's responsibility
on the one hand
from one point of view
on the other hand
from the opposed point of view
out of hand
- out of control
- immediately; without preliminaries or delay
- over and done with
show one's hand
Etymology: orig. with reference to card playing
to disclose one's intentions
take in hand
- to take control of or responsibility for
- to take up; handle; treat
- to try; attempt
throw up one's hands
to give up in despair
to hand
- near; accessible
- in one's possession
turn (or put) one's hand to
to undertake; work at
wash one's hands of
to refuse to go on with or take responsibility for
with a heavy hand
- in a heavy manner; without delicacy or grace
- with severity or sternness
with a high hand
with arrogance; in an arbitrary or dictatorial manner
with clean hands
without guilt; as an innocent person
Hand Definition
Hand (hand)
Hand, (Billings) Learned (lʉr′nid) 1872-1961; U.S. jurist
hand Synonyms
hand
n.
The termination of the arm
fingers, palm, grip, grasp, hold, phalanges, metacarpus, knuckles, paw*, duke*, hook*, shaker*, fin*, grappler*, forklift*; see also fist.*A workman
Handwriting
chirography, script, penmanship; see handwriting.Aid
help, guidance, instruction; see aid 1, support 3.Ability
*Applause
ovation, round of applause, thunderous reception, handclapping; see praise 2.Round of cards
at first hand
at hand
near, close by, accessible, convenient; see available, near 1.imminent, approaching, coming, impending;
at second hand
at the hand of
by hand
change hands
eat out of one's hand
force one's hand
from hand to hand
from hand to mouth
in hand
join hands
keep one's hand in
lay hands on
not lift a hand
off one's hands
on every hand
on hand
on one's hands
on the other hand
out of hand
show <strong>or </strong>tip one's hand
take in hand
throw up one's hands
to hand
turn one's hand to
wash one's hands of
with a heavy hand
with a high hand
with clean hands
hand Synonyms
hand Usage Examples
Converse of object
- shake: On entering a full room of people, Britons don't shake hands or greet everyone in the room.
- lend: Meanwhile Phil appears later to lend a hand with stories of Lynda's attempts to pay Tommy to be in the Mikado!
- outstretch: Most often the injury is caused by a blow to the shoulder or by falling on an outstretched hand.
Preposition: on
tiller: John's insightful, experienced presence and calm and careful hand on the tiller is already proving of great benefit to our deliberations.
Adjective modifier
- left: There was no left hand or right hand side at the time.
- other: The pup, on the other hand, rapidly gains weight feeding on milk, which contains about 60 % fat.
- upper: God had the upper hand from beginning to end.
- right: After 200 yards there is a right hand turn down a track.
- bare: For students who are studying for 1-3 months, they should be able to cut a brick in two using their bare hands!
Modifies a noun
- basin: The Fiorelli hand basin has a kidney shaped interior with a wider back.
- side: On the right hand side is the headline: WARNING!
- corner: Click on next at the bottom right hand corner of the list to see the next 10 results.
- luggage: Thankfully, they just let me through without examining my hand luggage; otherwise, who knows what could have happened.
- lane: At Hyde Park Corner turn left into Park Lane right hand lane.
- grenade: During the First World War the company manufactured hand grenades and other cast iron products for use at the front.
Noun used with modifier
- wash: Do not eat, drink or smoke while applying the product and wash hands after use.
- pedestal: Pedestal hand basin, close coupled w.c. , heated ladder towel rail, recessed downlights to smooth finished ceiling.
- dab: Geoff is a dab hand at Indian dishes, which can be enjoyed on the premises or to take away.
Followed by a transitive particle
over: Sources said that the surveillance officers wanted to detain de Menezes, but were told to hand over the operation to the firearms team.
Followed by an intransitive particle
over: He can insist that the private key be handed over, rather than plain text.
Browse dictionary entries near hand
- ‹ Hancock
- ‹ hanaper
- ‹ Han Cities
- ‹ Han
- ‹ hamza
- ‹ hamulus
- ‹ Hamsun
- ‹ hamstring
- ‹ hamster
- ‹ Hampton Roads
- hand and foot ›
- hand around ›
- hand down ›
- hand-feed ›
- hand glass ›
- hand grenade ›
- hand-held ›
- hand-holding ›
- hand in ›
- hand in glove ›

