Meaning of hand in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /hænd/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  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 »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. guide or conduct or usher somewhere

    Examples

    • « hand the elderly lady into the taxi »

    Derived terms

  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 »

    Derived terms

  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 »

    Derived terms

  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 »

    Derived terms

  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 »

Famous quotes

  • « There was no religious ceremony connected with marriage among us, while on the other hand the relation between man and woman was regarded as in itself mysterious and holy. »
    Charles Eastman
  • « When I was a boy, I used to pull a big cross saw with my dad. He'd use his right hand, so I'd have to use my left. »
    Joe Frazier
  • « The sharpest memory of our old-fashioned Christmas eve is my mother's hand making sure I was settled in bed. »
    Paul Engle
  • « I went to drama school for four years at Carnegie Mellon, conservatory training before television comedy. I was doing Shakespeare and Chekov plays. It's about delivering on the promise of a $100,000 education and taking the shackles off and trying the hand at my craft. I'm thrilled with what I've seen so far. »
    Josh Gad
  • « I try to greet my friends with a drink in my hand, a warm smile on my face, and great music in the background, because that's what gets a dinner party off to a fun start. »
    Ina Garten

Browse dictionary