the terminal, prehensile part of the upper limb in humans and other primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpal area, fingers, and thumb.

the corresponding part of the forelimb in any of the higher vertebrates.

a terminal prehensile part, as the chela of a crustacean, or, in falconry, the foot of a falcon.

something resembling a hand in shape or function, as various types of pointers

the hands of a clock.

index ( def. 8 ) .

a person employed in manual labor or for general duties; worker; laborer

a factory hand; a ranch hand.

a person who performs or is capable of performing a specific work, skill, or action

a real hand at geometry.

skill; workmanship; characteristic touch

a painting that shows a master's hand.

a person, with reference to ability or skill

He was a poor hand at running a business.

a member of a ship's crew

All hands on deck!

Often, hands. possession or power; control, custody, or care

to have someone's fate in one's hands.

a position, esp. one of control, used for bargaining, negotiating, etc.

an action to strengthen one's hand.

means, agency; instrumentality

death by his own hand.

assistance; aid; active participation or cooperation

Give me a hand with this ladder.

side; direction

no traffic on either hand of the road.

style of handwriting; penmanship

She wrote in a beautiful hand.

a person's signature

to set one's hand to a document.

a round or outburst of applause for a performer

to get a hand.

a promise or pledge, as of marriage

He asked for her hand in marriage.

a linear measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used esp. in determining the height of horses.

Cards .

the cards dealt to or held by each player at one time.

the person holding the cards.

a single part of a game, in which all the cards dealt at one time are played.

Roman Law . manus ( def. 2 ) .

hands, Manège . skill at manipulating the reins of a horse

To ride well, one must have good hands.

a bunch, cluster, or bundle of various leaves, fruit, etc., as a bundle of tobacco leaves tied together or a cluster of bananas.

Machinery . the deviation of a thread or tooth from the axial direction of a screw or gear, as seen from one end looking away toward the other.

Building Trades .

the position of the hinges of a door, in terms of right and left, as seen from outside the building, room, closet, etc., to which the doorway leads.

the position of the hinges of a casement sash, in terms of right and left, from inside the window.

Also called handle. the fabric properties that can be sensed by touching the material, as resilience, smoothness, or body

the smooth hand of satin.

Archaic . a person considered as a source, as of information or of supply.

to deliver or pass with or as if with the hand.

to help, assist, guide, etc., with the hand

He handed the elderly woman across the street.

Nautical .

to take in or furl (a sail).

to haul on or otherwise handle.

of, belonging to, using, or used by the hand.

made by hand.

carried in or worn on the hand.

operated by hand; manual. ?

hand down,

to deliver (the decision of a court)

The jury handed down a verdict of guilty.

to transmit from one to another, esp. to bequeath to posterity

The ring had been handed down from her grandmother.

hand in, to submit; present for acceptance

She handed in her term paper after the deadline.

hand off, Football . to hand the ball to a member of one's team in the course of a play.

hand on, to transmit; pass on to a successor, posterity, etc.

The silver service was handed on to the eldest daughter of the family.

hand out, to give or distribute; pass out

People were handing out leaflets on every corner.

hand over,

to deliver into the custody of another.

to surrender control of

He handed over his business to his children.

at first hand

firsthand ( def. 1 ) .

at hand

within reach; nearby; close by.

near in time; soon.

ready for use

We keep a supply of canned goods at hand.

at second hand

second hand ( def. 3 ) .

at the hand or hands of

by the action of; through the agency of

They suffered at the hands of their stepfather.

by hand, by using the hands

as opposed to machines; manually

lace made by hand.

change hands

to pass from one owner to another; change possession

The property has changed hands several times in recent years.

come to hand

to come within one's reach or notice.

to be received; arrive

The spring stock came to hand last week.

eat out of one's hand

to be totally submissive to another; be very attentive or servile

That spoiled brat has her parents eating out of her hand.

force one's hand

to prompt a person to take immediate action or to reveal his or her intentions

The criticism forced the governor's hand so that he had to declare his support of the tax bill.

from hand to hand

from one person to another; through successive ownership or possession

The legendary jewel went from hand to hand.

from hand to mouth

improvidently; precariously; with nothing in reserve

They looked forward to a time when they would no longer have to live from hand to mouth.

give one's hand on or upon

to give one's word; seal a bargain by or as if by shaking hands

He said the goods would be delivered within a month and gave them his hand on it.

hand and foot

so as to hinder movement

They tied him hand and foot.

slavishly and continually

Cinderella had to wait on her stepsisters hand and foot.

hand and glove

very intimately associated

Several high-ranking diplomats were found to be hand and glove with enemy agents. Also, hand in glove.

hand in hand

with one's hand enclasped in that of another person.

closely associated; concurrently; conjointly

Doctors and nurses work hand in hand to save lives.

hand in one's checks

Chiefly British . cash ( def. 7 ) .

hand it to

Informal . to give just credit to; pay respect to

You have to hand it to her for getting the work out.

hand over fist

speedily; increasingly

He owns a chain of restaurants and makes money hand over fist.

hands down

effortlessly; easily

He won the championship hands down.

indisputably; incontestably

It was hands down the best race I've ever seen.

hands off! don't touch, strike

or interfere! keep away from!

Hands off my stereo!

hands up! hold your hands above your head! give up!

hand to hand

in direct combat; at close quarters

The troops fought hand to hand.

have a hand in

to have a share in; participate in

It is impossible that she could have had a hand in this notorious crime.

have one's hands full

to have a large or excessive amount of work to handle; be constantly busy

The personnel department has its hands full trying to process the growing number of applications.

hold hands

to join hands with another person as a token of affection

They have been seen holding hands in public.

in hand

under control

He kept the situation well in hand.

in one's possession

cash in hand.

in the process of consideration or settlement

regarding the matter in hand.

join hands

to unite in a common cause; combine

The democracies must join hands in order to survive.

keep one's hand in

to continue to practice

He turned the business over to his sons, but he keeps his hand in it. I just play enough golf to keep my hand in.

lay one's hands on

to obtain; acquire

I wish I could lay my hands on a good used piano.

to seize, esp. in order to punish

He wanted to lay his hands on the person who had backed into his car.

to impose the hands in a ceremonial fashion, as in ordination

The bishop laid hands on the candidates.

lend or give a hand

to lend assistance; help out

Lend a hand and we'll finish the job in no time.

lift a hand

to exert any effort

She wouldn't lift a hand to help anyone. Also, lift a finger.

off one's hands

out of one's charge or care

Now, with their children grown and off their hands, they will be free to travel.

successfully completed; finished

The lawyer planned a vacation as soon as the case was off his hands.

on all hands

by everyone; universally

It was decided on all hands to take an excursion.

on every side; all around

piercing glances on all hands. Also, on every hand.

on hand

in one's possession; at one's disposal

cash on hand.

about to occur; imminent

A change of government may be on hand.

present

There were not enough members on hand to constitute a quorum.

on the other hand

from another side or aspect; conversely

It was an unfortunate experience, but, on the other hand, one can learn from one's mistakes.

on or upon one's hands

under one's care or management; as one's responsibility

He was left with a large surplus on his hands.

out of hand

beyond control

to let one's temper get out of hand.

without delay; at once

The crisis obliged him to act out of hand.

no longer in process; finished

The case has been out of hand for some time.

without consideration or deliberation

to reject a proposal out of hand.

shake hands, to clasp another's hand in greeting, congratulation

or agreement

They shook hands on the proposed partnership.

show one's hand

to disclose or display one's true intentions or motives

The impending revolution forced him to show his hand.

sit on one's hands

to be unenthusiastic or unappreciative; fail to applaud

It was a lively show, but the audience sat on its hands.

to take no action; be passive or hesitant

While he was being beaten, the others sat on their hands.

take a hand in

to take part in; participate in

If the strike continues, the government will have to take a hand in the negotiations.

take in hand

to undertake responsibility for; assume charge

When both parents died, an uncle took the youngster in hand.

to deal with; treat of

We'll take the matter in hand at the next meeting.

throw up one's hands, to admit one's inadequacy, exasperation

or failure; despair

When the general received reports of an enemy build-up, he threw up his hands.

tie one's hands

to render one powerless to act; thwart

The provisions of the will tied his hands. Also, have one's hands tied.

tip one's hand

to reveal one's plans or intentions before the propitious time.

to hand

within reach; accessible or nearby.

into one's possession

A search of the attic brought some valuable antiques to hand.

try one's hand (at)

to test one's skill or aptitude for

After becoming a successful painter, he decided to try his hand at sculpture.

turn or put one's hand to

to set to work at; busy oneself with

He turned his hand successfully to gardening.

wash one's hands of

to disclaim any further responsibility for; renounce interest in or support of

I washed my hands of the entire affair.

with a heavy hand

with severity; oppressively

The law will punish offenders with a heavy hand.

in a clumsy manner; awkwardly; gracelessly

The play was directed with a heavy hand.

with a high hand

in an arrogant or dictatorial manner; arbitrarily

He ran the organization with a high hand.

verb

receive , take

verb

bestow , deal out , deliver , devote , disburse , dish out , dispense , disseminate , distribute , donate , give away , give out , hand over , mete , present , provide , hand