Meaning of hand in English

1. Pronunciation

   /hænd/

   US accent

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   UK accent

   How to pronounce hand in British English, in context ▾
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1. Verb

   hand

   Definitions

   1. place into the hands or custody of

   Examples

   • « hand me the spoon, please »
   • « Turn the files over to me, please »
   • « He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers »
2. 2. guide or conduct or usher somewhere

   Examples

   • « hand the elderly lady into the taxi »

3. Noun

   hand

   Etymology

   Old English hand, hond, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hand and German Hand

   Definitions

   1. the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

   Examples

   • « he had the hands of a surgeon »
   • « he extended his mitt »
4. 2. a hired laborer on a farm or ranch

   Examples

   • « the hired hand fixed the railing »
   • « a ranch hand »
5. 3. something written by hand

   Examples

   • « she recognized his handwriting »
   • « his hand was illegible »
6. 4. ability

   Examples

   • « he wanted to try his hand at singing »
7. 5. a position given by its location to the side of an object

   Examples

   • « objections were voiced on every hand »
8. 6. the cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time

   Examples

   • « I didn't hold a good hand all evening »
   • « he kept trying to see my hand »
9. 7. one of two sides of an issue

   Examples

   • « on the one hand..., but on the other hand... »
10. 8. a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece

    Examples

    • « the big hand counts the minutes »
11. 9. a unit of length equal to 4 inches

    Examples

    • « used in measuring horses »
    • « the horse stood 20 hands »
12. 10. a member of the crew of a ship

    Examples

    • « all hands on deck »
13. 11. a card player in a game of bridge

    Examples

    • « we need a 4th hand for bridge »
14. 12. a round of applause to signify approval

    Examples

    • « give the little lady a great big hand »
15. 13. terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos)

    Examples

    • « the kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting- Springfield (Mass.) Union »
16. 14. physical assistance

    Examples

    • « give me a hand with the chores »