hand🔊

The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.

''That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.''

A limb of certain animals, such as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.

An index or pointer on a dial; such as the hour and minute hands on the face of an analog clock, which are used to indicate the time of day.

''That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.''

(card games) (card games) The set of cards held by a player.

# A round of a card game.

(tobacco manufacturing) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.

(bunch) (collective) A bunch of bananas, a typical retail amount, where individual fruits are fingers.

(measurement) ''In linear measurement:''

(in measuring the height of horses) Four inches, a hand's breadth.

(obsolete) Three inches.

A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.

Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.

(especially in compounds) An agent; a servant, or manual laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty.

A performer more or less skilful.

An instance of helping.

{{U|handwriting}}; style of penmanship.

A person's autograph or signature.

Promise, word; especially of a betrothal.

Personal possession; ownership.

(in the plural) Management, domain, control.

(negative polarity plural) A hand which is free to assist; especially due to having one's hands full or otherwise fully preoccupied.

Applause.

(historical) A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.

(firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.

A whole rhizome of ginger.

The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.

(archaic) Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.

(archaic) Agency in transmission from one person to another.

(obsolete) Rate; price.

To give, pass or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.

To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.

(obsolete) To manage.

(obsolete) To seize; to lay hands on.

(rare) To pledge by the hand; to handfast.

(nautical) To furl (a sail).

(obsolete) To cooperate.