HAND | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
Meaning of hand in English
hand noun ukYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ hænd / usYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ hænd /hand noun ( BODY PART )
Add to word list Add to word list A1 [ C ] the part of the body at the end of the arm that is used for holding , moving , touching , and feeling things: by hand All their toys are made by hand. I delivered her invitation by hand (= not using the postal service ) . get your hands off something informal Get your hands off (= stop touching ) my bike ! good with your hands He can fix anything - he's so good with his hands. hold someone’s hand You have to hold my hand when we cross the road . hold hands They walked by, holding hands. in your hand Hold your fork in your left hand and your knife in your right hand. in hand She sat , pen in hand (= with a pen in her hand) , searching for the right words. keep your hands off someone They can't keep their hands off each other - they never stop kissing and cuddling . take someone by the hand She took me by the hand and led me into the cave . See also shake someone's hand go cap in hand to someone deepblue4you/E+/GettyImages More examples Fewer examples The baby gripped my finger with her tiny hand. Hold the racquet in one hand and the ball in the other. The school provides paper towels for the children to dry their hands on. I've got my hands in my pockets to keep them warm . The teacher asked us to form a circle and join hands. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases The hand ambidextrous ambidextrously carpal carpometacarpal carpus dexterity fingermark forefinger heel index finger manually manus median nerve metacarpal metacarpophalangeal metacarpus mitt nail volar volaris See more results »hand noun ( CLOCK/WATCH )
[ C ] one of the long , thin pieces that point to the numbers on a clock or watch : The hands and dial of the watch glow in the dark . The hands on the clock showed the exact time at which the explosion occurred . See also hour hand minute hand second hand Oleg Moiseyenko/Moment/GettyImages More examples Fewer examples The watch movement regulates the speed at which the hands move . The little hand points to the hour and the big hand points to the minutes . The hands of the watch are attached to individual gear wheels that turn at specific speeds . SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Watches & clocks 24-hour clock against the clock idiom alarm alarm clock astronomical clock at/on the stroke of something idiom grandfather clock horologist horology hour hand hourglass jewel quartz stroke synchronized tick ticking timekeeper timepiece turn the clocks back phrase See more results »hand noun ( CARDS )
[ C ] a game of cards or one single part of it, or the set of cards that a player has in a game : hand of Who wants to play a hand of poker ? In the evening they would play a few hands of whist . deal someone a hand You dealt me an appalling hand in that game . SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Card games all in bidding blackjack bridge busted flush canasta card sharp deal deuce diamond pool queen re-raise rebid recut rookie card solitaire spade stick straight See more results »hand noun ( ABILITY )
good/sure hands If you have good hands, you have the ability to use your hands to do something well: You want a fielder with good hands at shortstop. You can trust a goalie who has sure hands to keep her team in the game . SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Skilled, talented and able able ably accomplished adept adeptly dexterous dexterously digital native expert expert advice pedicure pedigreed polished practised prestidigitator ultra-slick up to (doing) something idiom well qualified white-collar with the best of them idiom See more results »hand noun ( HELP )
B1 [ S ] help with doing something that needs effort : a hand with She asked for a hand with the food for the party . a hand doing something Would you like a hand carrying those bags ? give someone a hand Could you give me a hand with the table , please ? lend someone a hand Eric came along and lent us a hand. need a hand I think Matthew might need a hand with his maths homework . could use a hand I could really use a hand with these accounts if you could spare a moment . See also give/lend someone a help ing hand guiding hand Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples to help someone help Can I help you get that? aid The project is designed to aid poorer countries. assist The army arrived to assist in the search. collaborate We collaborated on the project. cooperate Several countries are cooperating in the relief effort. benefit The children have benefited greatly from the new facilities. See more results » SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Helping and co-operating abet accommodative any port in a storm idiom assist assist with something attend carry errand of mercy idiom facilitate facilitation financial assistance give someone a leg up idiom leg lift pull your weight idiom rally round (someone) phrasal verb reach out (to someone ) phrasal verb recourse relief sponsor See more results »hand noun ( PERSON )
[ C ] 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 ? factory hand I joined the firm as a factory hand and gradually worked my way up to the top . See also farmhand (WORKER) hired hand [ C ] a sailor : All hands on deck ! SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Types of employment admin administrative administrative assistant administratively at the coalface idiom job-share job-sharing jobbing jobless joblessness probationary professionalism professionality qualified recertify VA virtual assistant well qualified WFH white-collar See more results »You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
People who work on boats & shipshand noun ( INVOLVEMENT )
[ S ] involvement in or influence over an event : have a hand in It is not thought that terrorists had a hand in the explosion . SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Taking part and getting involved actor all in along attendee be (a) party to something idiom concern engage go all in go in on something phrasal verb hat have a dog in the fight idiom have a horse in the race idiom muscle neck participatory pitch in phrasal verb plunge plunge in/plunge into something phrasal verb punch above your weight idiom thick See more results »You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Power to controlhand noun ( CLAP )
[ S ] clapping for a performer : give sb a big hand So please give a big hand to (= welcome with clapping ) your host for the evening , Bill Cronshaw! SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Praising and applauding acclaim acclamation accolade adulate adulation clap enthrone enthronement eulogistic eulogistically eulogize homage laudatory laurel laurel wreath lay it on a bit thick idiom ode ooh ooh and aah idiom puff See more results »hand noun ( WRITING )
[ S ] old use a person's writing: an uneven hand SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Writing & typing agraphia asemic bang bang something out phrasal verb bash something out phrasal verb borrow chart dot draw enter misspell orthography purple prose put someone down for something phrasal verb put something/someone down phrasal verb re-register re-registration scrawl semiotics writer See more results »hand noun ( MEASUREMENT )
[ C ] a unit for measuring the height of a horse up to its shoulder : One hand equals four inches (= 10.16 centimetres ) . SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Horse riding barrel racing blinker break someone in phrasal verb bronc bucking bronco capriole horsemanship puissance rein rein something in phrasal verb reschool reshoe riding habit rodeo saddle saddlery stirrup tack three-day eventing whip See more results »You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Miscellaneous units of measurementIdioms
at hand at the hands of someone a game in hand get/lay/put your hands on someone get/lay/put your hands on something go hand in hand with something hand in glove hand in hand hand over fist hand to hand More idioms someone's hands are tied have your hands full have something in hand have something on your hands hold/put your hands up in hand the job/matter in hand keep your hand in keep a firm hand on something live (from) hand to mouth not lift a hand on hand on the one hand on the other hand out of hand play into someone's hands put your hand in your pocket raise a hand a safe pair of hands take someone/something in hand win ( something ) hands down hand verb [ T ] ukYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ hænd / usYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ hænd / B1 to put something into someone's hand from your own hand: hand something to someone The waiter smiled politely as he handed my bill to me. hand someone something The waiter smiled politely as he handed me my bill . hand something on Please read this memo carefully and hand it on to your colleagues . Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples to give something to someone give Give me that dirty plate. offer Your doctor should be able to offer advice. provide This booklet provides useful information about local services. supply The lake supplies the whole town with water. donate Four hundred dollars has been donated to the school book fund. See more results » in sports such as football or ice hockey , to catch or hit the ball or puck with the hand, in a way that is against the rules : The player was penalized for handing the ball . More examples Fewer examples When you've finished your work sheets , clip them together and hand them to me. She handed me a business card with her name neatly embossed on it. The waiter handed me the menu with a flourish . She handed me a tissue just as I sneezed . Please would you hand me my coat ? SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Giving, providing and supplying accommodate accommodate someone with something administer administration afford arm someone with something be good for something idiom give something over to something/someone phrasal verb go around phrasal verb go round phrasal verb hand something around phrasal verb outfit provision purvey purveyor put something on phrasal verb re-equip re-equipment render tender See more results »You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Hitting and beating Football/soccer HockeyIdiom
have (got) to hand it to someonePhrasal verbs
hand something around hand something back hand something down hand something in hand off hand someone off hand something off hand something out hand something over hand something/someone over More phrasal verbs hand something round hand something up (Definition of hand from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)hand | American Dictionary
hand noun usYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ hænd /hand noun ( BODY PART )
Add to word list Add to word list [ C ] 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.hand noun ( CLOCK )
[ C ] one of the two long narrow parts on a clock or watch that move to show the time : the hour / minute handhand noun ( CARDS )
[ C ] the set of cards that a player is given in a game : a winning / losing handhand noun ( HELP )
[ C usually sing ] help with doing something: Can I give you a hand with those bags ?hand noun ( WORKER )
[ C ] a person who does physical work , esp . as one of a team or group : a farm handhand noun ( CLAPPING )
[ C usually sing ] a period of clapping to show enjoyment of a performance : Let’s give this band a big hand.Idioms
at hand at the hands of someone by hand give someone a hand hand in hand hands down hands off ( something ) in good hands in hand in the hands of someone More idioms on hand hand verb [ T ] usYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ hænd /hand verb [T] ( PUT INTO HAND )
to put something from your hand into someone else’s hand: Would you please hand me a pencil ?Phrasal verbs
hand back something hand down something hand down something hand in something hand out something hand over something/someone (Definition of hand from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)hand | Business English
hand noun ukYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ hænd / usYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
Add to word list Add to word list [ C ] WORKPLACE someone employed to do physical work : a factory / farm hand hand in hand 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 . working closely with someone: I see myself working hand in hand with him on this. at hand available : Help is at hand for owners of small and growing businesses . being worked on or dealt with at the present time : He would use his team members ' particular experiences and talents to help him attack the problem at hand. by hand made or done using your hands rather than a machine : She entered the information into a computer by hand. delivered by a person , rather than sent in the mail : It had been delivered by hand and there was no post mark . See also handmade get your hands on sb/sth informal 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 . good with your hands 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 . in hand already available or being done: Plans for the restructuring are already in hand. in the hands of sb 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 . controlled or owned by a particular person or group of people : 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 . on hand 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 . out of your hands 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 . put your hand in your pocket UK 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 . the job/matter in hand the job or subject that is important at the present time : He is a consummate professional , very focused on the job in hand. to hand UK near and able to be used: Rosco always kept large amounts of cash to hand.See also
hand in glove cash in hand noun change hands handmade hold noun shake hands a show of hands (Definition of hand from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)Examples of hand
hand In both written and unwritten traditions, a complex of thoughts and approaches to music are handed down from teacher to student. From the Cambridge English Corpus Hold these points and then change the hands and repeat the process. From the Cambridge English Corpus Voting was normally by show o f hands. From the Cambridge English Corpus A total of 1,490 sentences were handed down, including 504 for imprisonment or detention in a reform school. From the Cambridge English Corpus As he handed it to the new marine, he would drop it on the ground. From the Cambridge English Corpus One way of thinking about human existence through time, then, is to say that we are constantly handing down a set of possibilities to ourselves. From the Cambridge English Corpus Everything in the picture seems to work out from and back to her hands. From the Cambridge English Corpus Red may like many hands, perhaps varying greatly in size and content. From the Cambridge English Corpus People cannot kick with their hands or eyes or anything else in the normal sense. From the Cambridge English Corpus Their fortunes were in the hands of strangers and of circumstance. From the Cambridge English Corpus I had just given grand rounds at the medical school when my colleague handed me a pink message slip. From the Cambridge English Corpus Is treatment of incurable disease placed in the hands of other countries? From the Cambridge English Corpus Her hands were cold and mottled, her lips were blue, her face was pale, and her respirations were agonal. From the Cambridge English Corpus Humans remove meat from bodies with their hands, in the process covering them with blood. From the Cambridge English Corpus They stand there as if they had never been built by human hands. From the Cambridge English Corpus See all examples of hand These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.Collocations with hand
hand
These are words often used in combination with hand .
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bare hand Freer gained a reputation for performing effects like freezing ice in his bare hand . From Wikipedia This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license. cupped hand The cupped hand and ear trumpet were commonly used methods to improve sound input to the ear in the past. From the Cambridge English Corpus firm hand It therefore follows that a firm hand must be maintained on home demand. From the Hansard archive Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0 These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. See all collocations with hand What is the pronunciation of hand ?Translations of hand
in Chinese (Traditional) 身體部位, 手, 鐘錶／手錶… See more in Chinese (Simplified) 身体部位, 手, 钟表／手表… See more in Spanish mano, aguja, marinero… See more in Portuguese mão, ponteiro (do relógio), dar… See more in more languages in Marathi in Japanese in Turkish in French in Catalan in Dutch in Tamil in Hindi in Gujarati in Danish in Swedish in Malay in German in Norwegian in Urdu in Ukrainian in Russian in Telugu in Arabic in Bengali in Czech in Indonesian in Thai in Vietnamese in Polish in Korean in Italian हात, असे काहीतरी करण्यास मदत करा ज्यासाठी खूप प्रयत्नांची आवश्यकता आहे, स्वत:च्या हातून एखाद्याच्या हातात काहीतरी देणे… See more 手, （時計の）針, （人）に（物）を手渡す… See more el, yelkovan, (kağıt oyununda) eldeki kâğıtlar… See more main [feminine], aiguille [feminine], coup [masculine] de main… See more mà, busca, donar… See more hand, (klokken-)wijzer, hulp… See more உடலின் ஒரு பகுதி கையில் வைத்திருக்கும், நகரும், தொடும் மற்றும் விஷயங்களை உணர பயன்படும்… See more हाथ, सहायता, मदद… See more હાથ, પંજો, મદદ કરવી… See more hånd, viser, mand… See more hand, visare, arbetare… See more tangan, jarum, pekerja… See more die Hand, der Zeiger, der Arbeiter… See more hånd [masculine], viser [masculine], hjelp [masculine]… See more ہاتھ, مدد, دینا… See more рука, стрілка, помічник… See more рука, кисть руки, стрелка часов… See more చెయ్యి, సహాయం/ చాలా శ్రమ అవసరమయ్యే పనిని చేయడంలో సహాయం, అందించు/ మీ చేతి నుండి ఒకరి చేతిలో ఏదైనా పెట్టు… See more يَدّ, عَقْرَب السَّاعة, يُعْطي… See more হাত, হস্ত, সাহায্যকারী… See more ruka, ručička, dělník… See more tangan, jarum, pekerja… See more มือ, เข็มนาฬิกา, คนงาน… See more bàn tay, kim đồng hồ, thuỷ thủ… See more ręka, wskazówka, rozdanie… See more 손, 시계 바늘, -을 건네주다… See more mano, lancetta, porgere… See more Need a translator?Get a quick, free translation!
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hamstring hamstrung Han hanbok hand hand and glove hand baggage hand blender hand check {{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}} {{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes Try a quiz now {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}}More meanings of hand
All free hand sleight of hand on-hand dab hand hand gel handsaw old hand See all meanings Phrasal Verbs hand back something phrasal verb hand down something phrasal verb hand down something phrasal verb hand in something phrasal verb hand out something phrasal verb hand over something/someone phrasal verb hand sth in See all phrasal verb meanings Idioms and phrases at hand idiom at the hands of someone idiom by hand idiom give someone a hand idiom hand in hand idiom hands down idiom hands off ( something ) idiom See all idioms and phrasesWord of the Day
so-so
UKYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈsəʊˌsəʊ/ USYour browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈsoʊˌsoʊ/between average quality and low quality; not good or well
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Laying it on thick: talking about exaggeration
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