Meaning of hand In English

• 0 the part of the body at the end of the arm that is used for holding, moving, touching, and feeling things:

  • All their toys are made by hand.

  • I delivered her invitation by hand (= not using the postal service).

  • informal Get your hands off (= stop touching) my bike!

  • He can fix anything - he's so good with his hands.

  • You have to hold my hand when we cross the road.

  • They walked by, holding hands.

  • Hold your fork in your left hand and your knife in your right hand.

  • She sat, pen in hand (= with a pen in her hand), searching for the right words.

  • They can't keep their hands off each other - they never stop kissing and cuddling.

  • "Congratulations!" she said and shook me by the hand/shook my hand/shook hands with me.

  • She took me by the hand and led me into the cave.

  • a hand towel

• 1 one of the long, thin pieces that point to the numbers on a clock or watch:

  • Does anyone have a watch with a second hand?

• 2 a (single part of a) game of cards, or the set of cards that a player has in a game:

  • Who wants to play a hand of poker?

  • You dealt me an appalling hand in that game.

• 3 help with doing something that needs a lot of effort:

  • [ + -ing verb ] Would you like a hand carrying those bags?

  • Could you give/lend me a hand with (= help me to move) the table, please?

  • I think Matthew might need a hand with his maths homework.

  • I could really use a hand with these accounts if you could spare a moment.

• 4 a person who does physical work or is skilled or experienced in something:

  • How many extra hands will we need to help with the harvest?

  • I joined the firm as a factory hand and gradually worked my way up to the top.

  • All hands on deck!

• 5 involvement in or influence over an event:

  • It is not thought that terrorists had a hand in the explosion.

• 6 clapping for a performer:

  • So please give a big hand to (= welcome with clapping) your host for the evening, Bill Cronshaw!

• 7 a person's writing:

  • an uneven hand

• 8 a unit for measuring the height of a horse up to its shoulder:

  • One hand equals four inches (= 10.16 centimetres).

• 9 to put something into someone's hand from your own hand:

  • [ + two objects ] The waiter smiled politely as he handed me my bill/handed my bill to me.

  • Please read this memo carefully and hand it on (to your colleagues).

• 10 the part of the body at the end of the arm that includes the fingers and is used for holding, moving, touching, and feeling things:

  • Keep both hands on the steering wheel.

  • When eating, most Americans hold the fork in their right hand.

  • He took my hand (= held it with his hand) as we walked along.

• 11 one of the two long narrow parts on a clock or watch that move to show the time:

  • the hour/minute hand

• 12 the set of cards that a player is given in a game:

  • a winning/losing hand

• 13 help with doing something:

  • Can I give you a hand with those bags?

• 14 a person who does physical work, esp. as one of a team or group:

  • a farm hand

• 15 a period of clapping to show enjoyment of a performance:

  • Let’s give this band a big hand.

• 16 to put something from your hand into someone else’s hand:

  • Would you please hand me a pencil?

• 17 someone employed to do physical work:

  • a factory/farm hand

• 18 always happening or being done together:

  • go hand in hand (with sth) Taking too much risk often goes hand in hand with another big mistake - putting all your money into one project.

  • I see myself working hand in hand with him on this.

• 19 available:

  • Help is at hand for owners of small and growing businesses.

  • He would use his team members' particular experiences and talents to help him attack the problem at hand.

• 20 made or done using your hands rather than a machine:

  • She entered the information into a computer by hand.

  • It had been delivered by hand and there was no post mark.

• 21 to find or get someone or something you want:

  • She would have to wait days for funds to clear before she could get her hands on the money.

• 22 able to make or do things well with your hands:

  • Martin was good with his hands and worked for a time repairing piers at a marina.

• 23 already available or being done:

  • Plans for the restructuring are already in hand.

• 24 being dealt with or looked after by a particular person or group of people:

  • leave/put sth in the hands of sb The document is important because it puts the decisions in the hands of management.

  • be/lie/rest in the hands of sb The company's future is firmly in the hands of its creditors.

  • The post office in this country is still in the hands of the state.

• 25 available and ready to help or be used if necessary:

  • They said he had $7.5 million cash on hand.

  • be on hand to do sth A team of experts is on hand to answer individual problems or questions.

• 26 no longer able to be controlled by you, or no longer your responsibility:

  • The decision over his future had been taken out of his hands by management.

• 27 to give money to someone or to a charity:

  • People are more likely to put their hands in their pockets if they know it's for a good cause.

• 28 the job or subject that is important at the present time:

  • He is a consummate professional, very focused on the job in hand.

• 29 near and able to be used:

  • Rosco always kept large amounts of cash to hand.