hand /hand/

1. (in humans) the extremity of the arm below the wrist
2. Any corresponding member in the higher vertebrates
3. The forefoot of a quadruped
4. The extremity of the hind limb when it is prehensile
5. A pointer or index
6. A measure of four inches
7. A division of a bunch of bananas
8. Side, direction, quarter
9. A worker, esp in a factory or on a ship
10. A performer
11. A doer, author or producer
12. Instrumentality
13. Influence
14. Share in performance
15. Power or manner of performing
16. Style
17. Skill
18. Handiwork
19. Touch
20. Stroke
21. Control
22. (often in pl) keeping, custody
23. Possession
24. Assistance
25. Style of handwriting
26. A signature, esp of a sovereign
27. Pledge
28. Consent to or promise of marriage, or fulfilment of such promise
29. Feel, handle (of a textile)
30. The set of cards held by a player at one deal
31. The play of a single deal of cards
32. (loosely) a game of cards
33. A turn, round or innings in a game
34. In various games, (possession of) service
35. A round of applause
36. (in pl) skill in handling a horse's reins

1. To lay hands on, set hand to, manipulate, handle (obsolete)
2. To join hands with (rare)
3. To pass with the hand
4. To lead, escort or help (eg into a vehicle) with the hands
5. To transfer or deliver (often with over)
6. To furl or lower (a sail, esp a square sail) (nautical)

1. (in combination) denoting: by hand, or direct bodily operation (hand-held, hand-knitted, handmade, hand-painted, hand-sewn, hand-weeded)
2. For the hands (hand lotion, handtowel)
3. Operated by hand (hand-punch)
4. Held in the hand (hand-basket)

handˈed adjective

1. Having hands
2. With hands joined (Milton)

1. Denoting: using one hand in preference to the other (as in left-handed)
2. Having a hand or hands as stated (as in one-handed or neat-handed)

handˈedness noun

1. The tendency to use one hand rather than the other
2. Inherent asymmetry in particles, etc, eg causing twisting in one direction (physics)

As in left-handedness

handˈer noun

1. Someone who hands
2. A blow on the hand

1. Used to signify: a blow, etc with the hand or hands as stated (eg right-hander, back-hander)
2. A play with a specified number of characters (eg two-hander)

handˈful noun (pl handˈfuls)

1. Enough to fill the hand
2. A small number or quantity
3. Someone or something that taxes one's powers

handˈily adverb

handˈiness noun

handˈless adjective

1. Without hands
2. Awkward
3. Incompetent

handˈy adjective (handˈier; handˈiest)

1. Dexterous
2. Near to hand
3. Convenient
4. Near
5. Easy to use

handˈbag noun

1. A bag for small articles, carried esp by women
2. 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

1. A game between goals in which the ball is struck with the palm of the hand
2. A game similar to fives in which a ball is struck with the gloved hand against a wall or walls (usu four)
3. /-bölˈ/ (in football) the offence of touching or striking the ball with one's hand

handˈ-barrow noun

1. A wheelless barrow, carried by handles
2. A handcart

handˈ-basket noun

handˈbell noun

A small bell with a handle, rung by hand

handˈbill noun

1. A light pruning hook
2. A bill or loose sheet bearing an announcement

handˈbook noun

1. A manual
2. A guidebook
3. 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)

1. A firm grip
2. Custody
3. A handle (dialect)
4. A contract, esp a betrothal

adjective (archaic)

1. Bound
2. Espoused
3. Tight-gripping

transitive verb (archaic)

1. To betroth
2. To join by handfasting

handˈfasting noun (archaic)

1. Betrothal
2. Probationary marriage
3. 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

1. A glass or glazed frame to protect plants
2. A mirror or a magnifying glass with a handle

hand grenade noun

A grenade to be thrown by hand

handˈgrip noun

1. A grasp with the hand
2. Something for the hand to grasp
3. (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

1. A hold by the hand
2. 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)

1. A female servant or attendant
2. 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

1. A cheap ready-made garment
2. A second-hand garment

handˈ-mill noun

1. A quern
2. 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

1. A portion handed out, esp to the needy
2. An issue
3. A prepared statement issued to the press, people attending a lecture, etc
4. A usu free leaflet containing information, propaganda, etc

handˈ-out noun (badminton, etc)

1. A player whose side is receiving the service
2. 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

1. To pick by hand
2. 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

1. A saw worked by hand, specif with a handle at one end
2. 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

1. A clamp
2. A jack for raising weights

handˈset noun

1. On a telephone, the part held by the hand, containing the mouthpiece and earpiece
2. 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

An apparatus that can be operated without using the hands

handˈshake noun

1. A shaking of hands in greeting, etc (also handˈshaking)
2. A golden handshake or the like
3. 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

1. Not touching with the hands
2. Operated by remote control
3. That cannot be touched
4. Not favouring active involvement

hands-onˈ adjective

1. Operated by hand
2. Favouring active involvement
3. Involving practical rather than theoretical knowledge, experience, method of working, etc
4. (of museums, etc) with exhibits that can be handled
5. (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)

1. A staff-like handle, eg of a flail
2. A staff as a weapon
3. 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

1. Writing, script
2. Style of writing
3. Individual style discernible in one's actions

handˈwritten adjective

Written by hand, not typed or printed

handˈwrought adjective

Handworked

handˈyman noun

1. A man employed to carry out, or skilled in doing, odd jobs
2. 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

1. Conveniently near
2. Within easy reach
3. Near in time
4. 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

1. By use of the hands, or tools worked by the hand, not by machinery or other indirect means
2. By personal delivery, not by post

by the strong hand

By force

change hands

To pass to other ownership or keeping

come to hand

1. To arrive
2. To be received

come to one's hand

1. To be found easy
2. 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

1. To get control of the play so as to turn one's cards to good use
2. To get into the way or knack

good hands

1. A trustworthy source
2. Good keeping
3. Care of those who may be trusted to treat one well

hand and foot

1. Orig with respect to hands and feet
2. With assiduous attention

hand and (or in) glove

1. On very intimate terms
2. In close co-operation

hand down or on

To transmit in succession or by tradition

hand in hand

1. With hands mutually clasped
2. With one person holding the hand of another
3. In close association
4. 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

1. To transfer
2. To relinquish possession of

hand over fist

With steady and rapid gain

hand over hand

1. By passing the hands alternately one before or above another, as in climbing a rope or swimming with a certain stroke
2. Progressively
3. With steady and rapid gain

hand over head

Headlong

hands down

With utter ease (as in winning a race)

hands off

1. (as a command) keep off
2. 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

1. As present payment
2. In preparation
3. Under control
4. Of a ball that has to be played from balk (billiards)

keep one's hand in see under keep

lay hands on

1. To seize
2. To obtain or find
3. To subject physically to rough treatment
4. To bless, or to ordain by touching with the hand(s)
5. 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

1. The touch of a bishop or presbyters in ordination
2. 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

1. On all sides
2. By everybody

on hand

1. Ready, available
2. In one's possession

on one's hands

1. Under one's care or responsibility
2. 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

1. At once, immediately, without premeditation
2. 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

1. To engage in, undertake
2. 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

1. To undertake
2. 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

1. To give up a venture or plan
2. To concede defeat

tie someone's hands

To render someone powerless

to (one's) hand

1. In readiness
2. Within easy reach
3. (of a letter) received

try one's hand at

1. To attempt
2. To test one's prowess at

under one's hand

With one's proper signature attached

upper hand

1. Mastery
2. Advantage

wash one's hands (of)

To disclaim responsibility (for) (Bible, Matthew 27.24)

• buttonholing
• buttonhook
• buttonhooks
• buttoning
• button-mould
• button mushroom
• button quail
• button quails
• buttons
• button scurvy
• button-through
• button up
• buttonwood
• buttonwoods
• buttony
• button your lip
• butt out
• buttress
• buttressed
• buttresses
• buttressing
• buttress-root
• buttress-roots
• buttress-thread
• buttress-threads