handlenoun [ C ]
uk/ˈhæn.dəl/us/ˈhæn.dəl/handle noun [ C ] (PART)
B2 a part of an object designed for holding, moving, or carrying the object easily:
More examples
- I just opened the drawer as usual and the handle came away in my hand.
- The handle on this door is rather stiff.
- Slowly, I turned the door handle.
- I picked it up and the handle broke off.
- The door handles were made of brass.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Having in your hands
- ahold
- arm
- clasp
- clench
- cling
- cradle
- cup
- dandle
- enfold
- grasp
- hand
- hand in hand idiom
- hang
- hang on
- hang/hold on like grim death idiom
- hold
- hold on
- onto
- pinion
- seize
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handle noun [ C ] (NAME)
informal a name of a person or place, especially a strange one:
handleverb
uk/ˈhæn.dəl/us/ˈhæn.dəl/handle verb (DEAL WITH)
B1 [ T ] to deal with, have responsibility for, or be in charge of:
More examples
- This is a very delicate situation and it needs to be handled sensitively.
- Only some of the bank's lending operations are handled directly by the manager.
- The president has been criticized for the way he has handled the whole affair.
- The customer services department handles any customer complaints.
- So far, he seems to be handling the job well, but it's really too soon to judge.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Dealing with things or people
- attend to sb/sth
- beard the lion (in his/her den) idiom
- come up against sth
- come/get to grips with sth idiom
- confront
- cut
- firefight
- firefighting
- get sth in
- inherit
- jump-start
- overcome
- process
- reckon
- reckon with sb/sth
- see about sth
- see to sth/sb
- set about sth
- turn
- weather
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handle verb (TOUCH)
C2 [ T ] to pick something up and touch, hold, or move it with your hands:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Touching & feeling
- brush
- feel
- feel your way idiom
- fiddle
- fiddle (around) with sth
- finger
- hand
- hand to hand idiom
- haptic
- kinaesthesia
- lick
- nudge
- pat
- paw
- play
- play with sth
- tactile
- tap
- toy
- toy with sth
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handle verb (OPERATE)
[ T ] to operate or control something that could be difficult or dangerous:
[ I usually + adv/prep ] If a car handles well, it is easy and pleasant to drive.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Controlling and being in charge
- aggrandize
- assume
- assumption
- authoritative
- balance of power
- divide
- dominant
- have sb by the balls idiom
- have sb eating out of your hand idiom
- have sb in the palm of your hand idiom
- have sth in hand idiom
- have/hold the whip hand idiom
- hook
- preside over sth
- pull
- pull rank idiom
- pull the strings idiom
- putty
- rein
- whip
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
handle verb (SELL)
[ T ] to buy and sell goods:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Buying & selling - general words
- all-you-can-eat
- barter
- black market
- bottom
- brokerage
- channel
- cold-calling
- desk research
- first refusal
- high street
- market share
- pawn
- pay
- supply and demand idiom
- the grey market
- trade
- trade route
- trading
- transaction
- under the counter idiom
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