Definition Definition

hand - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'hand' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Hand [ n.]
- That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus.
- That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand
- A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.
- An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute hand of a clock.
- A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
- Side; part; direction, either right or left.
- Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
- Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
- An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand at speaking.
- Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad or running hand. Hence, a signature.
- Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; -- usually in the plural.
- Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new.
- Rate; price.
- That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once
- The quota of cards received from the dealer.
- A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.
- The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
2 . Hand [ v. i.]
- To cooperate.
3 . Hand [ v. t.]
- To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.
- To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.
- To manage; as, I hand my oar.
- To seize; to lay hands on.
- To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
- To furl; -- said of a sail.

Meaning of 'hand' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . hand [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a hired laborer on a farm or ranch
Example in sentence:
  • a ranch hand;
  • the hired hand fixed the railing
Meaning (2):
- a member of the crew of a ship
Example in sentence:
  • all hands on deck
Meaning (3):
- physical assistance
Example in sentence:
  • give me a hand with the chores
Meaning (4):
- a round of applause to signify approval
Example in sentence:
  • give the little lady a great big hand
Meaning (5):
- the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
Example in sentence:
  • he extended his mitt;
  • he had the hands of a surgeon
Meaning (6):
- the cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time
Example in sentence:
  • he kept trying to see my hand;
  • I didn't hold a good hand all evening
Meaning (7):
- ability
Example in sentence:
  • he wanted to try his hand at singing
Meaning (8):
- something written by hand
Example in sentence:
  • his hand was illegible;
  • she recognized his handwriting
Meaning (9):
- a position given by its location to the side of an object
Example in sentence:
  • objections were voiced on every hand
Meaning (10):
- one of two sides of an issue
Example in sentence:
  • on the one hand..., but on the other hand...
Meaning (11):
- a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece
Example in sentence:
  • the big hand counts the minutes
Meaning (12):
- a unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses
Example in sentence:
  • the horse stood 20 hands
Meaning (13):
- terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos)
Example in sentence:
  • the kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting
Meaning (14):
- a card player in a game of bridge
Example in sentence:
  • we need a 4th hand for bridge
15 . hand [ v]
Meaning (15):
- place into the hands or custody of
Example in sentence:
  • hand me the spoon, please;
  • He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers;
  • Turn the files over to me, please
Meaning (16):
- guide or conduct or usher somewhere
Example in sentence:
  • hand the elderly lady into the taxi