Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

hand       (hānd)  Pronunciation Key  (click for larger image in new window) n.   The terminal part of the human arm located below the forearm, used for grasping and holding and consisting of the wrist, palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb. A homologous or similar part in other animals, as the terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates. Any of the rotating pointers used as indexes on the face of a mechanical clock. A pointer, as on a gauge or dial. A style or individual sample of writing. A signature: put my hand to the contract. The cards held in a card game by a given player at any time. The number of cards dealt each player; the deal. A player or participant in a card game: We need a fourth hand for bridge. A portion or section of a game during which all the cards dealt out are played: a hand of poker. One who performs manual labor: a factory hand. One who is part of a group or crew: the ship's hands. The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability: heard the scandalous tale at third hand. The strength or force of one's position: negotiated from a strong hand. Possession, ownership, or keeping. Often used in the plural: The books should be in your hands by noon. Power; jurisdiction; care: The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands. Involvement or participation: "In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed). An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. A unit of length equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used especially to specify the height of a horse. Something suggesting the shape or function of the human hand, especially: Any of the rotating pointers used as indexes on the face of a mechanical clock. A pointer, as on a gauge or dial. A style or individual sample of writing. A signature: put my hand to the contract. The cards held in a card game by a given player at any time. The number of cards dealt each player; the deal. A player or participant in a card game: We need a fourth hand for bridge. A portion or section of a game during which all the cards dealt out are played: a hand of poker. One who performs manual labor: a factory hand. One who is part of a group or crew: the ship's hands. The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability: heard the scandalous tale at third hand. The strength or force of one's position: negotiated from a strong hand. Possession, ownership, or keeping. Often used in the plural: The books should be in your hands by noon. Power; jurisdiction; care: The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands. Involvement or participation: "In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed). An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. Printing See index. Lateral direction indicated according to the way in which one is facing: at my right hand. A style or individual sample of writing. A signature: put my hand to the contract. The cards held in a card game by a given player at any time. The number of cards dealt each player; the deal. A player or participant in a card game: We need a fourth hand for bridge. A portion or section of a game during which all the cards dealt out are played: a hand of poker. One who performs manual labor: a factory hand. One who is part of a group or crew: the ship's hands. The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability: heard the scandalous tale at third hand. The strength or force of one's position: negotiated from a strong hand. Possession, ownership, or keeping. Often used in the plural: The books should be in your hands by noon. Power; jurisdiction; care: The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands. Involvement or participation: "In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed). An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. A round of applause to signify approval. Physical assistance; help: gave me a hand with the bags. hands Sports A handball in soccer. Games The cards held in a card game by a given player at any time. The number of cards dealt each player; the deal. A player or participant in a card game: We need a fourth hand for bridge. A portion or section of a game during which all the cards dealt out are played: a hand of poker. One who performs manual labor: a factory hand. One who is part of a group or crew: the ship's hands. The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability: heard the scandalous tale at third hand. The strength or force of one's position: negotiated from a strong hand. Possession, ownership, or keeping. Often used in the plural: The books should be in your hands by noon. Power; jurisdiction; care: The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands. Involvement or participation: "In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed). An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. One who performs manual labor: a factory hand. One who is part of a group or crew: the ship's hands. The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability: heard the scandalous tale at third hand. The strength or force of one's position: negotiated from a strong hand. Possession, ownership, or keeping. Often used in the plural: The books should be in your hands by noon. Power; jurisdiction; care: The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands. Involvement or participation: "In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed). An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. A participant in an activity, often one who specializes in a particular activity or pursuit: an old hand at labor negotiations. The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability: heard the scandalous tale at third hand. The strength or force of one's position: negotiated from a strong hand. Possession, ownership, or keeping. Often used in the plural: The books should be in your hands by noon. Power; jurisdiction; care: The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands. Involvement or participation: "In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed). An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. Possession, ownership, or keeping. Often used in the plural: The books should be in your hands by noon. Power; jurisdiction; care: The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands. Involvement or participation: "In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed). An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. Involvement or participation: "In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed). An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. An aptitude or ability: I tried my hand at decorating. The aesthetic feel or tactile quality of something, such as a fabric, textile, or carpeting, that indicates its fineness, texture, and durability. A manner or way of performing something: a light hand with makeup. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed. A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word: You have my hand on that. v.   hand·ed, hand·ing, hands v.   tr. To give or pass with or as if with the hands; transmit: Hand me your keys. To aid, direct, or conduct with the hands: The usher handed the patron to a reserved seat. Nautical To roll up and secure (a sail); furl. Sports To give (the ball) directly to a teammate, as in football. Often used with off. To carry, strike, or propel (the ball) with the hand or arm in violation of the rules in soccer. v.   intr. Sports To make a handoff, as in football. Often used with off. Phrasal Verbs: hand down To bequeath to one's heirs. To make and pronounce (an official decision, especially a court verdict). To distribute freely; disseminate. To administer or deal out. Phrasal Verb(s): hand down To bequeath to one's heirs. To make and pronounce (an official decision, especially a court verdict). hand on To turn over to another. hand out To distribute freely; disseminate. To administer or deal out. hand over To release or relinquish to another. hand up To deliver (an indictment) to a higher judicial authority. Idiom(s): at hand Close by; near. Soon in time; imminent: Retribution is at hand. Idiom(s): at the hand/hands of By or through the agency of: favors he received at the hands of his uncle. Idiom(s): by hand By using the hands; manually. Idiom(s): get/lay (one's) hands on To get possessioon of; acquire or obtain. Idiom(s): hand and foot With concerted, never-ending effort: had to wait on them hand and foot. Idiom(s): hand in/and glove On intimate terms or in close association: "The folklore of American academia says that publishing and teaching go hand in glove" (Edward B. Fiske). Idiom(s): hand in hand In cooperation; jointly. Idiom(s): hand it to Informal To give credit to: You've got to hand it to her; she knows what she's doing. Idiom(s): hand over fist At a tremendous rate: made money hand over fist. Idiom(s): hands down With no trouble; easily. Indisputably; unquestionably. Idiom(s): in hand In one's possession: arrived with the contract in hand. Under control: kept the tense situation in hand. Under consideration: gave her attention to the matter in hand. In preparation or process: With the work finally in hand, we began to see progress. Sports Remaining to be played by one team but not by another: Their team is ahead in the standings, but our team has two games in hand. Idiom(s): off (one's) hands No longer under one's jurisdiction, within one's responsibility, or in one's care: We finally got that project off our hands. Idiom(s): on hand Present; available: Are there enough people on hand to hold a meeting? About to happen; imminent; What is on hand for this evening? Idiom(s): on/upon (one's) hands In one's possession, often as an imposed responsibility or burden: Now they have the grandchildren on their hands. Idiom(s): on the one hand As one point of view; from one standpoint. Idiom(s): on the other hand As another point of view; from another standpoint. Idiom(s): out of hand Out of control: Employee absenteeism has gotten out of hand. At once; immediately. Over and done with; finished. Uncalled for or improper; indiscreet. Idiom(s): to hand Nearby. In one's possession. [Middle English, from Old English.] hand'er n., hand'less adj.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Hand       (hānd)  Pronunciation Key  American jurist. As a federal judge (1924-1951) his influence was so great that he was sometimes called the "tenth man" of the U.S. Supreme Court.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

in·dex       (ĭn'děks')  Pronunciation Key  n.   pl. in·dex·es or in·di·ces (-dĭ-sēz') Something that serves to guide, point out, or otherwise facilitate reference, especially: An alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects treated in a printed work, giving the page or pages on which each item is mentioned. A thumb index. A table, file, or catalog. Computer Science A list of keywords associated with a record or document, used especially as an aid in searching for information. Mathematics A number or symbol, often written as a subscript or superscript to a mathematical expression, that indicates an operation to be performed, an ordering relation, or a use of the associated expression. A number derived from a formula, used to characterize a set of data. Something that reveals or indicates; a sign: "Her face . . . was a fair index to her disposition" (Samuel Butler). A character () used in printing to call attention to a particular paragraph or section. Also called fist, hand. An indicator or pointer, as on a scientific instrument. Mathematics A number or symbol, often written as a subscript or superscript to a mathematical expression, that indicates an operation to be performed, an ordering relation, or a use of the associated expression. A number derived from a formula, used to characterize a set of data. A number that represents the change in price or value of an aggregate of goods, services, wages, or other measurable quantity in comparison with a reference number for a previous period of time. Index Roman Catholic Church A list formerly published by Church authority, restricting or forbidding the reading of certain books. tr.v.   in·dexed, in·dex·ing, in·dex·es To furnish with an index: index a book. To enter in an index. To indicate or signal. To adjust through indexation. [Middle English, forefinger, from Latin; see deik- in Indo-European roots.] in'dex'er n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
hand 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

hand
noun
1.	the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb; "he had the hands of a surgeon"; "he extended his mitt"
2.	a hired laborer on a farm or ranch; "the hired hand fixed the railing"; "a ranch hand" [syn: hired hand]
3.	something written by hand; "she recognized his handwriting"; "his hand was illegible" [syn: handwriting]
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"
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]
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"
verb
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]
2.	guide or conduct or usher somewhere; "hand the elderly lady into the taxi"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

hand

In addition to the idioms beginning with hand, also see at first hand; at hand; at second hand; at the hand of; back of one's hand; bare hands; bird in the hand; bite the hand that feeds you; bound hand and foot; by hand; catch red-handed; change hands; clean hands; cold hands, warm heart; deal in (one a hand); dirty one's hands; eat out of someone's hand; feed (hand) someone a line; force someone's hand; free hand; from hand to hand; give a hand; glad hand; grease someone's palm (hand); hang heavy on one's hands; hat in hand; have a hand in; have one's hands full; heavy hand; helping hand; in good hands; in hand; in one's hands; in the hands of; iron hand; keep one's hand in; know like a book (the back of one's hand); lay hands on; left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing; left-handed compliment; lend a hand; many hands make light work; off one's hands; on a platter, hand; on hand; on one's hands; on the one hand; on the other hand; out of control (hand); out of hand; play into the hands of; putty in someone's hands; raise a hand against; right-hand man; rub one's hands; shake hands; show of hands; show one's hand; sit on one's hands; sleight of hand; take in hand; take into one's hands; take one's life (in one's hands); take the law into one's hands; throw in one's hand; throw up one's hands; tie one's hands; time on one's hands; tip one's hand; to hand; try one's hand; turn one's hand to; upper hand; wait on hand and foot; wash one's hands of; with one arm (hand) tied.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

hand (hānd)
n.

1. The terminal part of the human arm located below the forearm, used for grasping and holding and consisting of the wrist, palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb.
2. A homologous or similar part in other animals.

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

HAND chat
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)

Jargon File - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Hand County, SD (county, FIPS 59) Location: 44.54695 N, 99.00417 W
Population (1990): 4272 (2053 housing units)
Area: 3721.1 sq km (land), 9.4 sq km (water)

Left Hand, WV Zip code(s): 25251

Bird In Hand, PA Zip code(s): 17505

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Hand

Hand\, n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h["o]nd, Goth. handus, and perh. to Goth. hinpan 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.

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.

3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.

4. Side; part; direction, either right or left.

On this hand and that hand, were hangings. --Ex. xxxviii. 15.

The Protestants were then on the winning hand. --Milton.

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

He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator. --Addison.

6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.

To change the hand in carrying on the war. --Clarendon.

Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand. --Judges vi. 36.

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.

A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for. --Locke.

I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile. --Hazlitt.

8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad or running hand. Hence, a signature.

I say she never did invent this letter; This is a man's invention and his hand. --Shak.

Some writs require a judge's hand. --Burril.

9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand one year's tribute." --Knolles.

Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the goverment of Britain. --Milton.

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.

11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch." --Bacon.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.