Search Result for "hand": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (14)

1. the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb;
- Example: "he had the hands of a surgeon"
- Example: "he extended his mitt"
[syn: hand, manus, mitt, paw]

2. a hired laborer on a farm or ranch;
- Example: "the hired hand fixed the railing"
- Example: "a ranch hand"
[syn: hired hand, hand, hired man]

3. something written by hand;
- Example: "she recognized his handwriting"
- Example: "his hand was illegible"
[syn: handwriting, hand, script]

4. ability;
- Example: "he wanted to try his hand at singing"

5. a position given by its location to the side of an object;
- Example: "objections were voiced on every hand"

6. the cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time;
- Example: "I didn't hold a good hand all evening"
- Example: "he kept trying to see my hand"
[syn: hand, deal]

7. one of two sides of an issue;
- Example: "on the one hand..., but on the other hand..."

8. a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece;
- Example: "the big hand counts the minutes"

9. a unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses;
- Example: "the horse stood 20 hands"

10. a member of the crew of a ship;
- Example: "all hands on deck"

11. a card player in a game of bridge;
- Example: "we need a 4th hand for bridge"
[syn: bridge player, hand]

12. a round of applause to signify approval;
- Example: "give the little lady a great big hand"

13. terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos);
- Example: "the kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting"- Springfield (Mass.) Union

14. physical assistance;
- Example: "give me a hand with the chores"
[syn: hand, helping hand]


VERB (2)

1. place into the hands or custody of;
- Example: "hand me the spoon, please"
- Example: "Turn the files over to me, please"
- Example: "He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers"
[syn: pass, hand, reach, pass on, turn over, give]

2. guide or conduct or usher somewhere;
- Example: "hand the elderly lady into the taxi"


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hand \Hand\ (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h["o]nd, Goth. handus, and perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. Hunt.] 1. 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. [1913 Webster] 2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand; as: (a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey. (b) An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute hand of a clock. [1913 Webster] 3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses. [1913 Webster] 4. Side; part; direction, either right or left. [1913 Webster] On this hand and that hand, were hangings. --Ex. xxxviii. 15. [1913 Webster] The Protestants were then on the winning hand. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity. [1913 Webster] He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator. --Addison. [1913 Webster] 6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance. [1913 Webster] To change the hand in carrying on the war. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster] Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand. --Judges vi. 36. [1913 Webster] 7. 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. [1913 Webster] A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for. --Locke. [1913 Webster] I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile. --Hazlitt. [1913 Webster] 8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or running hand. Hence, a signature. [1913 Webster] I say she never did invent this letter; This is a man's invention and his hand. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Some writs require a judge's hand. --Burril. [1913 Webster] 9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand one year's tribute." --Knolles. [1913 Webster] Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 10. 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. [1913 Webster] 11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch." --Bacon. [1913 Webster] 12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as: (a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the dealer. (b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together. [1913 Webster] 13. (Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim. [1913 Webster] Note: Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as: (a) Activity; operation; work; -- in distinction from the head, which implies thought, and the heart, which implies affection. "His hand will be against every man." --Gen. xvi. 12. (b) Power; might; supremacy; -- often in the Scriptures. "With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you." --Ezek. xx. 33. (c) Fraternal feeling; as, to give, or take, the hand; to give the right hand. (d) Contract; -- commonly of marriage; as, to ask the hand; to pledge the hand. [1913 Webster] Note: Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or without the hyphen), signifying performed by the hand; as, hand blow or hand-blow, hand gripe or hand-gripe: used by, or designed for, the hand; as, hand ball or handball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade or hand-grenade, handgun or hand gun, handloom or hand loom, handmill or hand organ or handorgan, handsaw or hand saw, hand-weapon: measured or regulated by the hand; as, handbreadth or hand's breadth, hand gallop or hand-gallop. Most of the words in the following paragraph are written either as two words or in combination. [1913 Webster] Hand bag, a satchel; a small bag for carrying books, papers, parcels, etc. Hand basket, a small or portable basket. Hand bell, a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell. --Bacon. Hand bill, a small pruning hook. See 4th Bill. Hand car. See under Car. Hand director (Mus.), an instrument to aid in forming a good position of the hands and arms when playing on the piano; a hand guide. Hand drop. See Wrist drop. Hand gallop. See under Gallop. Hand gear (Mach.), apparatus by means of which a machine, or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power, may be operated by hand. Hand glass. (a) A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of plants. (b) A small mirror with a handle. Hand guide. Same as Hand director (above). Hand language, the art of conversing by the hands, esp. as practiced by the deaf and dumb; dactylology. Hand lathe. See under Lathe. Hand money, money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest money. Hand organ (Mus.), a barrel organ, operated by a crank turned by hand. Hand plant. (Bot.) Same as Hand tree (below). -- Hand rail, a rail, as in staircases, to hold by. --Gwilt. Hand sail, a sail managed by the hand. --Sir W. Temple. Hand screen, a small screen to be held in the hand. Hand screw, a small jack for raising heavy timbers or weights; (Carp.) a screw clamp. Hand staff (pl. Hand staves), a javelin. --Ezek. xxxix. 9. Hand stamp, a small stamp for dating, addressing, or canceling papers, envelopes, etc. Hand tree (Bot.), a lofty tree found in Mexico (Cheirostemon platanoides), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of a hand. Hand vise, a small vise held in the hand in doing small work. --Moxon. Hand work, or Handwork, work done with the hands, as distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork. All hands, everybody; all parties. At all hands, On all hands, on all sides; from every direction; generally. At any hand, At no hand, in any (or no) way or direction; on any account; on no account. "And therefore at no hand consisting with the safety and interests of humility." --Jer. Taylor. At first hand, At second hand. See def. 10 (above). At hand. (a) Near in time or place; either present and within reach, or not far distant. "Your husband is at hand; I hear his trumpet." --Shak. (b) Under the hand or bridle. [Obs.] "Horses hot at hand." --Shak. At the hand of, by the act of; as a gift from. "Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?" --Job ii. 10. Bridle hand. See under Bridle. By hand, with the hands, in distinction from instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed a garden by hand; to lift, draw, or carry by hand. Clean hands, freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt of dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." --Job xvii. 9. From hand to hand, from one person to another. Hand in hand. (a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. --Swift. (b) Just; fair; equitable. As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand comparison. --Shak. Hand over hand, Hand over fist, by passing the hands alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand over hand; also, rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand over hand. Hand over head, negligently; rashly; without seeing what one does. [Obs.] --Bacon. Hand running, consecutively; as, he won ten times hand running. Hands off! keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling! Hand to hand, in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to hand contest. --Dryden. Heavy hand, severity or oppression. In hand. (a) Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand, and . . . a far greater reward hereafter." --Tillotson. (b) In preparation; taking place. --Chaucer. "Revels . . . in hand." --Shak. (c) Under consideration, or in the course of transaction; as, he has the business in hand. In one's hand or In one's hands. (a) In one's possession or keeping. (b) At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my hand. Laying on of hands, a form used in consecrating to office, in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons. Light hand, gentleness; moderation. Note of hand, a promissory note. Off hand, Out of hand, forthwith; without delay, hesitation, or difficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to be hanged up out of hand." --Spenser. Off one's hands, out of one's possession or care. On hand, in present possession; as, he has a supply of goods on hand. On one's hands, in one's possession care, or management. Putting the hand under the thigh, an ancient Jewish ceremony used in swearing. Right hand, the place of honor, power, and strength. Slack hand, idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth. Strict hand, severe discipline; rigorous government. To bear a hand (Naut.), to give help quickly; to hasten. To bear in hand, to keep in expectation with false pretenses. [Obs.] --Shak. To be hand and glove with or To be hand in glove with. See under Glove. To be on the mending hand, to be convalescent or improving. To bring up by hand, to feed (an infant) without suckling it. To change hand. See Change. To change hands, to change sides, or change owners. --Hudibras. To clap the hands, to express joy or applause, as by striking the palms of the hands together. To come to hand, to be received; to be taken into possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday. To get hand, to gain influence. [Obs.] Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them. --Baxter. To get one's hand in, to make a beginning in a certain work; to become accustomed to a particular business. To have a hand in, to be concerned in; to have a part or concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in. To have in hand. (a) To have in one's power or control. --Chaucer. (b) To be engaged upon or occupied with. To have one's hands full, to have in hand all that one can do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be pressed with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with difficulties. To have the (higher) upper hand, or To get the (higher) upper hand, to have, or get, the better of another person or thing. To his hand, To my hand, etc., in readiness; already prepared. "The work is made to his hands." --Locke. To hold hand, to compete successfully or on even conditions. [Obs.] --Shak. To lay hands on, to seize; to assault. To lend a hand, to give assistance. To lift the hand against, or To put forth the hand against, to attack; to oppose; to kill. To live from hand to mouth, to obtain food and other necessaries as want compels, without previous provision. To make one's hand, to gain advantage or profit. To put the hand unto, to steal. --Ex. xxii. 8. To put the last hand to or To put the finishing hand to, to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect. To set the hand to, to engage in; to undertake. That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to. --Deut. xxiii. 20. To stand one in hand, to concern or affect one. To strike hands, to make a contract, or to become surety for another's debt or good behavior. To take in hand. (a) To attempt or undertake. (b) To seize and deal with; as, he took him in hand. To wash the hands of, to disclaim or renounce interest in, or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash one's hands of a business. --Matt. xxvii. 24. Under the hand of, authenticated by the handwriting or signature of; as, the deed is executed under the hand and seal of the owner. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hand \Hand\, v. i. To cooperate. [Obs.] --Massinger. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hand \Hand\ (h[a^]nd), n. A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hand \Hand\ (h[a^]nd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handed; p. pr. & vb. n. Handing.] 1. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter. [1913 Webster] 2. To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage. [1913 Webster] 3. To manage; as, I hand my oar. [Obs.] --Prior. [1913 Webster] 4. To seize; to lay hands on. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster] 5. To pledge by the hand; to handfast. [R.] [1913 Webster] 6. (Naut.) To furl; -- said of a sail. --Totten. [1913 Webster] To hand down, to transmit in succession, as from father to son, or from predecessor to successor; as, fables are handed down from age to age; to forward to the proper officer (the decision of a higher court); as, the Clerk of the Court of Appeals handed down its decision. To hand over, to yield control of; to surrender; to deliver up. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hand n 1: the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb; "he had the hands of a surgeon"; "he extended his mitt" [syn: hand, manus, mitt, paw] 2: a hired laborer on a farm or ranch; "the hired hand fixed the railing"; "a ranch hand" [syn: hired hand, hand, hired man] 3: something written by hand; "she recognized his handwriting"; "his hand was illegible" [syn: handwriting, hand, script] 4: ability; "he wanted to try his hand at singing" 5: a position given by its location to the side of an object; "objections were voiced on every hand" 6: the cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time; "I didn't hold a good hand all evening"; "he kept trying to see my hand" [syn: hand, deal] 7: one of two sides of an issue; "on the one hand..., but on the other hand..." 8: a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece; "the big hand counts the minutes" 9: a unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses; "the horse stood 20 hands" 10: a member of the crew of a ship; "all hands on deck" 11: a card player in a game of bridge; "we need a 4th hand for bridge" [syn: bridge player, hand] 12: a round of applause to signify approval; "give the little lady a great big hand" 13: terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos); "the kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting"- Springfield (Mass.) Union 14: physical assistance; "give me a hand with the chores" [syn: hand, helping hand] v 1: place into the hands or custody of; "hand me the spoon, please"; "Turn the files over to me, please"; "He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers" [syn: pass, hand, reach, pass on, turn over, give] 2: guide or conduct or usher somewhere; "hand the elderly lady into the taxi"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

517 Moby Thesaurus words for "hand": Adamite, John Hancock, X, abalienate, accessible, acclaim, acclamation, accomplished fact, accomplishment, ace, achievement, act, acta, action, administration, adventure, agency, aid, alien, alienate, amortize, angle, appendage, applause, approaching, arm, arrow, aspect, assign, assist, assistance, at hand, auspices, authority, autograph, autography, bakehead, bank, barter, beam, being, bequeath, best bower, big hand, black gang, blaze, blow, blue-collar worker, body, boilerman, boost, border, bough, bower, branch, breadwinner, broadside, buck, bungs, burst of applause, cabin boy, calligraphy, cards, care, casual, casual laborer, cat, cede, chap, character, charge, cheek, cheer, chips, chirography, chop, christcross, cipher, circulate, clap, clapping, clapping of hands, claws, close, close by, closely, clubs, clutches, coast, come across with, comfort, command, commissary steward, common laborer, compass needle, complement, confer, connivingly, consign, control, convenient, convey, countermark, countersign, countersignature, counterstamp, coup, creature, cross, cure, custodianship, custody, customer, day laborer, deal out, dealings, deck, deckhand, deckie, deed, deed over, deliver, deliver over, demise, deuce, device, devolve upon, diamonds, digits, direction, direction post, disburse, dish out, dispense, disposal, disposition, disseminate, distribute, doing, doings, dole out, domination, dominion, duck, dummy, earthling, easily, eclat, effort, effortlessly, empery, empire, employee, encore, endeavor, endorsement, enfeoff, enterprise, exchange, exploit, face cards, facet, factory worker, fait accompli, fangs, feat, feed, fellow, find, finger post, fingernails, fingers, fireman, fist, flank, flush, fork over, forward, free lance, free-lancer, full house, full-time worker, gest, give, give in, give out, give over, give title to, give up, go, governance, government, graphanalysis, graphology, graphometry, grasp, grip, gripe, groundling, guardianship, guidance, guide, guideboard, guidepost, gun loader, gunner, guy, hand, hand down, hand in, hand in glove, hand in hand, hand on, hand out, hand over, handclap, handclapping, handedness, handiwork, hands, hands down, handwriting, handy, haunch, head, hearts, helm, help, helping hand, hip, hold, homo, hooks, hospital steward, hour hand, human, human being, imminent, imp, in cahoots, in collusion, in league, index, index finger, indicator, individual, industrial worker, influence, initials, intimately, involvement, iron hand, jack, jaws, job, jobber, jobholder, joint, jointly, joker, jowl, jurisdiction, keeping, king, knave, laborer, laboring man, landing signalman, laterality, lead, left bower, leg, leg up, life, lift, like mad, limb, link, living soul, lobe, lobule, lubber line, mail orderly, make over, man, management, mandibles, maneuver, manuscript, many-sidedness, mark, mark of signature, mastership, mastery, maxillae, measure, meathooks, member, menial, mete out, migrant, milepost, ministry, minute hand, mitts, moiler, monogram, mortal, move, multilaterality, nails, navigator, navvy, near, nearby, needle, negotiate, nippers, nose, offer, office temporary, offshoot, oiler, on hand, one, operation, operative, organ, ovation, oversight, overt act, pack, pair, paleography, palm, part, participation, party, pass, pass on, pass out, pass over, passage, pastorage, pastorate, pastorship, patronage, paw, pencraft, penmanship, penscript, performance, person, personage, personality, picture cards, pincers, pinion, planking, plaudit, playing cards, pointer, popularity, possession, pounces, power, present, present to, proceeding, production, proffer, profile, proletarian, protectorship, provide, purser, quarter, queen, quickly, radio operator, raj, ramification, rapidly, reach, readily, regnancy, reign, reins of government, relief, render, res gestae, resign, round, round of applause, roustabout, royal flush, rubber, ruff, rule, runner, safe hands, salaried worker, scion, script, scription, scrive, seal, self-employed person, sell, servant, settle, settle on, share, shoot, shore, side, siding, sigil, sign away, sign manual, sign over, signature, signboard, signet, signpost, single, singleton, snip, snips, somebody, someone, soul, sovereignty, spades, sparks, speedily, spray, sprig, spur, steadily, step, steward, stewardess, stewardship, stiff, stoker, straight, stroke, stunt, stylography, submit, subscription, succor, supervision, supply, support, surrender, sway, swiftly, switch, tail, talons, teeth, tellurian, temple, temporary, tender, tendril, terran, thing, thing done, thunder of applause, to hand, together, toiler, torpedoman, touch, tour de force, trade, transaction, transfer, transmit, trey, trick, trump, turn, turn over, tutelage, twig, undertaking, unguals, ungulae, unilaterality, visa, vise, wage earner, wage slave, wageworker, ward, wardenship, wardship, watch, watch and ward, will, wing, work, worker, workgirl, workhand, working girl, workingman, workingwoman, workman, works, worldling, yeoman, yield
V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (February 2016):

HAND Have A Nice Day (slang, Usenet, IRC)
The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

HAND // [Usenet: very common] Abbreviation: Have A Nice Day. Typically used to close a Usenet posting, but also used to informally close emails; often preceded by HTH.
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

HAND Have A Nice Day. Often used sarcastically and in connection with HTH, as in: > Where's the point of alt.stupidity? Between the 't' and the 's'. HTH. HAND. (1998-03-06)
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Hand Called by Galen "the instrument of instruments." It is the symbol of human action (Ps. 9:16; Job 9:30; Isa. 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:8). Washing the hands was a symbol of innocence (Ps. 26:6; 73:13; Matt. 27:24), also of sanctification (1 Cor. 6:11; Isa. 51:16; Ps. 24:3, 4). In Ps. 77:2 the correct rendering is, as in the Revised Version, "My hand was stretched out," etc., instead of, as in the Authorized Version, "My sore ran in the night," etc. The right hand denoted the south, and the left the north (Job 23:9; 1 Sam. 23:19). To give the right hand was a pledge of fidelity (2 Kings 10:15; Ezra 10:19); also of submission to the victors (Ezek. 17:18; Jer. 50:15). The right hand was lifted up in taking an oath (Gen. 14:22, etc.). The hand is frequently mentioned, particularly the right hand, as a symbol of power and strength (Ps. 60:5; Isa. 28:2). To kiss the hand is an act of homage (1 Kings 19:18; Job 31:27), and to pour water on one's hands is to serve him (2 Kings 3:11). The hand of God is the symbol of his power: its being upon one denotes favour (Ezra 7:6, 28; Isa. 1:25; Luke 1:66, etc.) or punishment (Ex. 9:3; Judg. 2:15; Acts 13:11, etc.). A position at the right hand was regarded as the chief place of honour and power (Ps. 45:9; 80:17; 110:1; Matt. 26:64).
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

HAND. That part of the human body at the end of the arm. 2. Formerly the hand was considered as the symbol of good faith, and some contracts derive their names from the fact that the hand was used in making them; as handsale, (q.v.) mandatum, (q.v.) which comes from a mandata. The hand is still used for various legal or forensic purposes. When a person is accused of a crime and he is arraigned, and he is asked to hold up his right hand; and when one is sworn as a witness, he is required to lay his right hand on the Bible, or to hold it up. 3. Hand is also the name of a measure of length used in ascertaining the height of horses. It is four inches long. See Measure: Ell. 4. In a figurative sense, by hand is understood a particular form of writing; as if B writes a good hand. Various kinds of hand have been used, as, the secretary hand, the Roman hand, the court hand, &c. Wills and contracts may be written in any of these, or any other which is intelligible.
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

HAND, n. A singular instrument worn at the end of the human arm and commonly thrust into somebody's pocket.
U.S. Gazetteer Counties (2000):

Hand -- U.S. County in South Dakota Population (2000): 3741 Housing Units (2000): 1840 Land area (2000): 1436.580481 sq. miles (3720.726206 sq. km) Water area (2000): 3.633210 sq. miles (9.409971 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1440.213691 sq. miles (3730.136177 sq. km) Located within: South Dakota (SD), FIPS 46 Location: 44.547411 N, 98.985268 W Headwords: Hand Hand, SD Hand County Hand County, SD