/ hænd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
PART OF BODY
1.
[ C ] the part of the body at the end of the arm, including the fingers and thumb :
Ian placed a hand on her shoulder.
Put your hand up if you know the answer.
Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times.
She was on (her) hands and knees (= crawling on the floor) looking for an earring.
Couples strolled past holding hands .
Give me your hand (= hold my hand) while we cross the road.
The crowd threw up their hands (= lifted them into the air) in dismay.
He killed the snake with his bare hands (= using only his hands) .
a hand towel (= a small towel for drying your hands on)
a hand drill (= one that is used by turning a handle rather than powered by electricity)
—see also left-hand , right-hand
-HANDED
2.
(in adjectives) using the hand or number of hands mentioned :
a one-handed catch
left-handed scissors (= intended to be held in your left hand)
HELP
3.
a hand [ sing. ] ( informal ) help in doing sth :
Let me give you a hand with those bags (= help you to carry them) .
Do you need a hand with those invoices?
The neighbours are always willing to lend a hand .
ROLE IN SITUATION
4.
[ sing. ] hand in sth the part or role that sb/sth plays in a particular situation; sb's influence in a situation :
Early reports suggest the hand of rebel forces in the bombings.
Several of his colleagues had a hand in his downfall.
This appointment was an attempt to strengthen her hand in policy discussions.
ON CLOCK / WATCH
5.
[ C ] (usually in compounds) a part of a clock or watch that points to the numbers
—picture at watch
—see also hour hand , minute hand , second hand
WORKER
6.
[ C ] a person who does physical work on a farm or in a factory
—see also chargehand , farmhand , hired hand , stagehand
SAILOR
7.
[ C ] a sailor on a ship :
All hands on deck!
—see also deckhand
HAND-
8.
(in compounds) by a person rather than a machine :
hand-painted pottery
hand-knitted
This item should be hand washed.
—see also handmade
IN CARD GAMES
9.
[ C ] a set of playing cards given to one player in a game :
to be dealt a good / bad hand
10.
[ C ] one stage of a game of cards :
I'll have to leave after this hand.
WRITING
11.
[ sing. ] ( old use ) a particular style of writing
—see also freehand
MEASUREMENT FOR HORSE
12.
[ C ] a unit for measuring the height of a horse, equal to 4 inches or 10.16 centimetres
—see also dab hand , old hand , second-hand , underhand
•
IDIOMS
- all hands on deck
- (close / near) at hand
- at the hands of sb | at sb's hands
- be good with your hands
- bind / tie sb hand and foot
- by hand
- fall into sb's hands / the hands of sb
- (at) first hand
- get your hands dirty
- sb's hand (in marriage)
- hand in glove (with sb)
- hand in hand
- (get / take your) hands off (sth/sb)
- hands up!
- have your hands full
- have your hands tied
- hold sb's hand
- in sb's capable, safe, etc. hands
- in hand
- in the hands of sb | in sb's hands
- keep your hand in
- lay / get your hands on sb
- lay / get your hands on sth
- many hands make light work
- not do a hand's turn
- off your hands
- on either / every hand
- on hand
- on your hands
- on the one hand ... on the other (hand) ...
- out of hand
- out of your hands
- play into sb's hands
- put your hand in your pocket
- (at) second, third, etc. hand
- take sb in hand
- take sth into your own hands
- throw your hand in
- to hand
- turn your hand to sth
—more at big adjective , bird , bite verb , blood noun , cap noun , cash noun , change verb , close (II) adverb , courage , dead adjective , devil , eat , firm adjective , fold verb , force verb , free adjective , hat , heavy , help verb , iron adjective , join verb , know verb , law , life , lift verb , live (I), money , offer verb , overplay , pair noun , palm noun , putty , raise verb , safe adjective , show noun , show verb , sleight , stay verb , time noun , try verb , upper adjective , wait verb , wash verb , whip noun , win verb , wring
■ verb
hand sth to sb | hand sb sth to pass or give sth to sb :
[ vn , vnn ]
She handed the letter to me.
She handed me the letter.
•
IDIOMS
- hand sth to sb on a plate
- have (got) to hand it to sb
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- hand sth around / round
- hand sth back (to sb)
- hand sth down (to sb)
- hand sth in (to sb)
- hand sb off
- hand sth on (to sb)
- hand sth out (to sb)
- hand sth over (to sb) | hand over (to sb) | hand sth over (to sb)
- hand sb over to sb
- hand sb/sth over (to sb)
••
VOCABULARY BUILDING
using your hands
touch
These verbs describe different ways of touching things:
| feel |
I felt the bag to see what was in it.
|
| finger |
She fingered the silk delicately.
|
| handle |
Handle the fruit with care.
|
| rub |
She rubbed her eyes wearily.
|
| stroke |
The cat loves being stroked.
|
| pat |
He patted my arm and told me not to worry.
|
| tap |
Someone was tapping lightly at the door.
|
| squeeze |
I took his hand and squeezed it.
|
hold
You can use these verbs to describe taking something quickly:
| grab |
I grabbed his arm to stop myself from falling.
|
| snatch |
She snatched the letter out of my hand.
|
These verbs describe holding things tightly:
| clasp |
Her hands were clasped behind her head.
|
| clutch |
The child was clutching a doll in her hand.
|
| grasp |
Grasp the rope with both hands and pull.
|
| grip |
He gripped his bag tightly and wouldn't let go.
|
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hand , hond , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hand and German Hand .