hand /hand/ noun- (in humans) the extremity of the arm below the wrist
- Any corresponding member in the higher vertebrates
- The forefoot of a quadruped
- The extremity of the hind limb when it is prehensile
- A pointer or index
- A measure of four inches
- A division of a bunch of bananas
- Side, direction, quarter
- A worker, esp in a factory or on a ship
- A performer
- A doer, author or producer
- Instrumentality
- Influence
- Share in performance
- Power or manner of performing
- Style
- Skill
- Handiwork
- Touch
- Stroke
- Control
- (often in pl) keeping, custody
- Possession
- Assistance
- Style of handwriting
- A signature, esp of a sovereign
- Pledge
- Consent to or promise of marriage, or fulfilment of such promise
- Feel, handle (of a textile)
- The set of cards held by a player at one deal
- The play of a single deal of cards
- (loosely) a game of cards
- A turn, round or innings in a game
- In various games, (possession of) service
- A round of applause
- (in pl) skill in handling a horse's reins
transitive verb- To lay hands on, set hand to, manipulate, handle (obsolete)
- To join hands with (rare)
- To pass with the hand
- To lead, escort or help (eg into a vehicle) with the hands
- To transfer or deliver (often with over)
- To furl or lower (a sail, esp a square sail) (nautical)
prefix- (in combination) denoting: by hand, or direct bodily operation (hand-held, hand-knitted, handmade, hand-painted, hand-sewn, hand-weeded)
- For the hands (hand lotion, handtowel)
- Operated by hand (hand-punch)
- Held in the hand (hand-basket)
ORIGIN: OE hand; in all Gmc tongues, perh related to Gothic hinthan to seize handˈed adjective - Having hands
- With hands joined (Milton)
combining form- Denoting: using one hand in preference to the other (as in left-handed)
- Having a hand or hands as stated (as in one-handed or neat-handed)
handˈedness noun - The tendency to use one hand rather than the other
- Inherent asymmetry in particles, etc, eg causing twisting in one direction (physics)
combining form As in left-handedness handˈer noun - Someone who hands
- A blow on the hand
combining form- Used to signify: a blow, etc with the hand or hands as stated (eg right-hander, back-hander)
- A play with a specified number of characters (eg two-hander)
handˈful noun (pl handˈfuls) - Enough to fill the hand
- A small number or quantity
- Someone or something that taxes one's powers
handˈily adverb handˈiness noun handˈless adjective - Without hands
- Awkward
- Incompetent
handˈy adjective (handˈier; handˈiest) - Dexterous
- Near to hand
- Convenient
- Near
- Easy to use
handˈbag noun - A bag for small articles, carried esp by women
- A light travelling bag
transitive verb (informal) To attack, destroy, wreck, undermine (orig used of Margaret Thatcher) handˈbagging noun handbag music noun A form of house music with long piano breaks and vocal solos handˈball noun - A game between goals in which the ball is struck with the palm of the hand
- A game similar to fives in which a ball is struck with the gloved hand against a wall or walls (usu four)
- /-bölˈ/ (in football) the offence of touching or striking the ball with one's hand
handˈ-barrow noun - A wheelless barrow, carried by handles
- A handcart
handˈ-basket noun handˈbell noun A small bell with a handle, rung by hand handˈbill noun - A light pruning hook
- A bill or loose sheet bearing an announcement
handˈbook noun - A manual
- A guidebook
- A bookmaker's book of bets (US)
handˈbrake noun A brake applied by a hand-operated lever handbrake turn noun A sharp U-turn on the spot in a motor car, achieved by applying the handbrake at speed handˈbreadth or hand's breadth noun The breadth of a hand handˈcar noun (US) A workman's small, open-sided railway car, motorized or propelled by hand-pumping a lever handˈcart noun A light cart drawn by hand handˈclap noun A clap of the hands handˈclasp noun (US) A handshake handˈcraft noun Handicraft transitive verb To make skilfully by hand handˈcrafted adjective handˈcuff noun (esp in pl) a shackle locked on the wrist transitive verb To put handcuffs on handˈfast noun (archaic) - A firm grip
- Custody
- A handle (dialect)
- A contract, esp a betrothal
adjective (archaic) - Bound
- Espoused
- Tight-gripping
transitive verb (archaic) - To betroth
- To join by handfasting
handˈfasting noun (archaic) - Betrothal
- Probationary marriage
- Private marriage
handˈ-feeding noun Feeding of animals or machinery by hand hand gallop noun An easy gallop, restrained by the bridle-hand hand glass noun - A glass or glazed frame to protect plants
- A mirror or a magnifying glass with a handle
hand grenade noun A grenade to be thrown by hand handˈgrip noun - A grasp with the hand
- Something for the hand to grasp
- (in pl) close struggle
handˈgun noun A gun that can be held and fired in one hand handˈ-held adjective (also without hyphen) held in the hands rather than mounted on some support hand'held noun Any piece of equipment designed to be carried in the hand, esp a personal digital assistant handˈhold noun - A hold by the hand
- A place or part that can be held by the hand
handˈ-horn noun An early form of musical horn without valves handˈicuffs plural noun Fisticuffs handˈ-in noun (badminton, etc) The player who is serving handˈjob noun (slang) An act of manually stimulating the penis of another person handˈknit noun and adjective (a garment) knitted by hand handˈ-knitˈ transitive verb handˈ-knitted adjective hand line noun A fishing-line without a rod intransitive verb To fish with such a line handˈlist noun A list without detail, for handy reference handˈ-loom noun A hand-worked weaving loom hand lotion noun handˈmade adjective handˈmaid or handˈmaiden noun (archaic) - A female servant or attendant
- A person or thing that serves a useful ancillary purpose
hand mating noun (agriculture) A system in which the stockman supervises the mating of a specific female to a specific male handˈ-me-down adjective (of garments) formerly ready-made, usually cheap, now usu second-hand, esp formerly belonging to a member of one's own family noun - A cheap ready-made garment
- A second-hand garment
handˈ-mill noun - A quern
- A coffee mill, pepper-mill, etc worked by hand
handˈ-off noun (rugby) An act or manner of pushing off an opponent hand of glory noun see separate entry. hand organ noun A barrel organ handˈout noun - A portion handed out, esp to the needy
- An issue
- A prepared statement issued to the press, people attending a lecture, etc
- A usu free leaflet containing information, propaganda, etc
handˈ-out noun (badminton, etc) - A player whose side is receiving the service
- The situation when the first player on the serving side loses his or her service
handˈover noun A transfer, handing over handˈ-painted adjective handˈ-paper noun Paper with a hand for watermark handˈ-pick transitive verb - To pick by hand
- To select carefully for a particular purpose
handˈplay noun Dealing of blows handˈ-post noun A fingerpost handˈ-press noun A printing or other press worked by hand handˈprint noun The mark left by a person's hand hand-promˈise noun Formerly in Ireland, a solemn form of betrothal hand puppet noun A glove puppet handˈrail noun A rail to hold for safety, support, etc, as on stairs hand relief noun (informal) Masturbation hand-runnˈing adverb (dialect) Consecutively handˈsaw noun - A saw worked by hand, specif with a handle at one end
- In Shakespeare, perhaps mistakenly written or copied in place of heronshaw (see also know a hawk from a handsaw under hawk1)
handˈ-screen noun A screen against fire or sun, held in the hand handˈ-screw noun - A clamp
- A jack for raising weights
handˈset noun - On a telephone, the part held by the hand, containing the mouthpiece and earpiece
- A remote-control device for a television set, DVD player, etc
handˈ-sewing noun handˈ-sewn adjective handsˈ-free adjective Not involving manual operation, eg of a telephone apparatus that incorporates a microphone and speaker so that the user need not hold the handset when making a call noun An apparatus that can be operated without using the hands handˈshake noun - A shaking of hands in greeting, etc (also handˈshaking)
- A golden handshake or the like
- An exchange of signals (on a separate line) between two or more devices, which synchronizes them in readiness for the transfer of data (computing)
handˈshaking noun (computing) The process of performing a handshake hands-offˈ adjective - Not touching with the hands
- Operated by remote control
- That cannot be touched
- Not favouring active involvement
hands-onˈ adjective - Operated by hand
- Favouring active involvement
- Involving practical rather than theoretical knowledge, experience, method of working, etc
- (of museums, etc) with exhibits that can be handled
- (of a therapeutic technique) involving specific positioning of the hands
handˈspike noun A bar used as a lever handˈspring noun A cartwheel or somersault with hands on the ground handˈstaff noun (pl handˈstaves or handˈstaffs) - A staff-like handle, eg of a flail
- A staff as a weapon
- A javelin
handˈstand noun An act of balancing one's body on the palms of one's hands with one's trunk and legs in the air handsˈturn or hand's turn noun (usu with a negative) a single or least act of work handˈtowel noun handˈ-weeded adjective handˈwork noun Work done by hand handˈworked adjective Made or done by hand handˈwriting noun - Writing, script
- Style of writing
- Individual style discernible in one's actions
handˈwritten adjective Written by hand, not typed or printed handˈwrought adjective Handworked handˈyman noun - A man employed to carry out, or skilled in doing, odd jobs
- A bluejacket
at any hand or in any hand (Shakespeare) At any rate, in any case at first hand Directly from the source at hand - Conveniently near
- Within easy reach
- Near in time
- At the beginning (Shakespeare)
at the hand (or hands) of By the act of bear a hand To take part, give aid bloody or red hand (heraldry) The arms of Ulster, a sinister hand erect couped at the wrist gules, borne by baronets in a canton or inescutcheon by hand - By use of the hands, or tools worked by the hand, not by machinery or other indirect means
- By personal delivery, not by post
by the strong hand By force change hands To pass to other ownership or keeping come to hand - To arrive
- To be received
come to one's hand - To be found easy
- To come to close quarters
force someone's hand To compel someone for one's own hand To one's own account get one's hand in - To get control of the play so as to turn one's cards to good use
- To get into the way or knack
good hands - A trustworthy source
- Good keeping
- Care of those who may be trusted to treat one well
hand and foot - Orig with respect to hands and feet
- With assiduous attention
hand and (or in) glove - On very intimate terms
- In close co-operation
hand down or on To transmit in succession or by tradition hand in hand - With hands mutually clasped
- With one person holding the hand of another
- In close association
- Conjointly (handˈ-in-handˈ adjective)
hand it to someone (slang) To admit someone's superiority, esp as shown by his or her success in a difficult matter hand out To distribute, pass by hand to individuals (see also handout above) hand over - To transfer
- To relinquish possession of
hand over fist With steady and rapid gain hand over hand - By passing the hands alternately one before or above another, as in climbing a rope or swimming with a certain stroke
- Progressively
- With steady and rapid gain
hand over head Headlong hands down With utter ease (as in winning a race) hands off - (as a command) keep off
- Do not touch or strike
hands up (as a command) hold the hands above the head in surrender hand to hand At close quarters (handˈ-to-handˈ adjective) hand to mouth With provision for immediate needs only (handˈ-to-mouthˈ adjective) handwriting on the wall see under write have one's hands full To be preoccupied, very busy hold hands see under hold1 in hand - As present payment
- In preparation
- Under control
- Of a ball that has to be played from balk (billiards)
keep one's hand in see under keep lay hands on - To seize
- To obtain or find
- To subject physically to rough treatment
- To bless, or to ordain by touching with the hand(s)
- To place one's hands on, over or near an ill person in an act of spiritual healing (also lay on hands)
laying-on of hands - The touch of a bishop or presbyters in ordination
- In spiritual healing, the action of placing hands on, over or near an ill person
lend a hand To give assistance lift a hand (usu with a negative) to make the least effort (to help, etc) off one's hands No longer under one's responsible charge old hand see under old on all hands or on every hand - On all sides
- By everybody
on hand - Ready, available
- In one's possession
on one's hands - Under one's care or responsibility
- Remaining as a burden or encumbrance
on the one hand … on the other hand… Phrases used to introduce opposing points in an argument, etc out of hand - At once, immediately, without premeditation
- Out of control
poor hand An unskilful person or way of handling (usu with at) raise one's hand to (often with a negative) to strike, behave violently towards set or put one's hand to - To engage in, undertake
- To sign
shake hands with see under shake show of hands A vote by holding up hands show one's hand To expose one's purpose sit on one's hands To take no action slow handclap Slow rhythmic clapping showing disapproval stand one's hand (informal) To buy a drink for someone else take in hand - To undertake
- To take charge of in order to educate, discipline, etc
take off someone's hands To relieve someone of the hand of God Any unforeseen and unavoidable accident, such as lightning or a storm throw in one's hand - To give up a venture or plan
- To concede defeat
tie someone's hands To render someone powerless to (one's) hand - In readiness
- Within easy reach
- (of a letter) received
try one's hand at - To attempt
- To test one's prowess at
under one's hand With one's proper signature attached upper hand - Mastery
- Advantage
wash one's hands (of) To disclaim responsibility (for) (Bible, Matthew 27.24) throw1 /thrō/ transitive verb (pat threw /throo/; pap thrown /thrōn/)- To cast, hurl, fling through the air
- To project
- To emit
- To cause (one's voice) to appear to come from elsewhere
- To cause to be in some place or condition, esp suddenly
- To render suddenly
- To put
- To put on or take off (clothes, etc) quickly, carelessly or violently (with off, on, onto)
- To execute, perform
- To have or suffer (eg a fit or tantrum)
- To give (a party)
- To bemuse, perplex, disconcert
- To move (a switch) so as to connect or disconnect
- To form (pottery) on a wheel
- To turn with a lathe
- To wind or twist (yarn) together
- (of a horse) to dislodge (its rider) from the saddle
- (of a horse) to lose (a shoe)
- To cast (one's opponent) to the ground (wrestling, judo)
- To deliver (a punch) (boxing)
- To bowl (a ball) bending illegally and straightening the arm during delivery (cricket)
- To play (a card)
- To make a cast of dice amounting to
- To cast (dice)
- To lose (a contest) deliberately, esp in return for a bribe (informal)
- To defeat, get the better of, or discomfit
- (of an animal) to give birth to
- To produce
intransitive verb- To cast or hurl
- To cast dice
- To lay about one (Spenser)
noun- An act of throwing
- A cast, esp of dice or a fishing-line
- The distance to which anything may be thrown
- A woollen wrap or small rug (esp N American)
- (also throwˈover) a piece of fabric spread over a piece of furniture, esp a bed or sofa, to improve its appearance or protect it
- An article, item, turn, go, occasion, etc (informal)
- A risky venture (informal)
- The vertical displacement of a particular rock, vein or stratum due to a fault (cf lateral shift; geology)
- A deflection caused by a sudden fluctuation (physics)
- Amplitude of movement (physics)
- A blow (Spenser)
ORIGIN: OE thrāwan to turn, to twist; Ger drehen to twist; see also thraw, throe throwˈer noun throwˈing noun and adjective thrown adjective - Twisted
- Cast, flung
throwˈster noun - A person who twists silk thread into yarn
- A gambler
throwˈaway noun - An advertisement brochure or handbill freely distributed to the public (N American)
- A contest without serious competition
- A line, or a joke, that an actor purposely delivers casually or without emphasis, often for the sake of realism
adjective - (of manner or technique) casual, without attempt at dramatic effect
- Ridiculously cheap, as if being thrown away
- Intended to be discarded or not recovered after use
throwˈback noun - A reversion (eg to an earlier developmental type)
- A person, plant, etc showing characteristics of an earlier developmental type
- A setback
throwˈ-down noun A home-made firework, esp one that makes a noise when dropped on the ground throwˈ-in noun - An act of throwing in
- A throw to put the ball back into play (football, basketball, etc)
throwing stick noun - A grooved stick for giving a spear greater leverage when thrown
- A throw stick
throwing table noun A potter's wheel thrown silk noun Organzine throwˈ-out noun - An act of throwing out
- A rejected thing
throwˈover See throw ( noun) above throw rug noun A small rug, decorative rather than utilitarian throw stick noun A weapon thrown whirling from the hand, such as the boomerang throw weight noun The maximum weight that can be lifted by a ballistic missile, incl the weight of the warhead(s) and guidance systems, but not the weight of the rocket itself throw about or throw around - To spend (money) extravagantly or recklessly
- To throw carelessly in different directions
- (throw about) to cast about or try expedients (Spenser)
throw a fit (informal) To have a fit, behave wildly throw away - To reject, toss aside
- To squander
- To fail to take advantage of
- To discard (a card)
- (of an actor) to speak (lines) deliberately without emphasis
- To bestow or expend on something unworthy
throw back - To retort, to refuse
- To delay or hinder the progress of
- To force (someone) to rely (on something)
- To revert to some ancestral character
throw (caution, etc) to the winds see under wind1 throw down To demolish throw down the gauntlet see under gauntlet1 throw in - To interject
- To throw (a football) back into play from the side of the pitch
- To add as an extra at no extra cost
throw in one's lot see under lot throw in the towel or throw in one's hand see under hand throw mud at see under mud throw off - To divest oneself of
- To disengage or release oneself from
- To tell or compose in an offhand way
- To perplex or disconcert
throw on To put on hastily throw oneself at To make a determined and obvious attempt to captivate throw oneself into To engage heartily in throw oneself on or upon - To attack, assault
- To entrust oneself to the power of
throw open - To cause to swing wide open
- To make freely accessible
throw out - To cast out
- To reject
- To expel
- To emit
- To utter casually
- To cause to project
- To build (a projecting extension)
- To cause to be misaligned
- To disconcert or distract
- To dismiss (a batsman) by throwing the ball at, and hitting, the wicket (cricket)
- To put (the batter) out by throwing the ball to a fielder to prevent the batter from reaching a base (baseball)
- To distance, leave behind
throw over To discard, desert or jilt throw together - To put together in a hurry
- To bring into contact by chance
throw up - To erect hastily
- To show prominently, to reveal
- To give up, to resign
- To vomit (informal)
throw up one's hands To raise one's hands as an expression of exasperation, despair, horror, etc throw up (something) against someone To reproach someone with (something) throw up the sponge see under sponge |