a part of a thing made specifically to be grasped or held by the hand.
2.
that which may be held, seized, grasped, or taken advantage of in effecting a purpose: The clue was a handle for solving the mystery.
3.
Slang.
a.
a person's name, esp. the given name.
b.
a person's alias, nickname, or code name.
c.
a name or term by which something is known, described, or explained.
4.
the total amount wagered on an event, series of events, or for an entire season or seasons, as at a gambling casino or in horse racing: The track handle for the day was over a million dollars.
5.
the total amount of money taken in by a business concern on one transaction, sale, event, or series of transactions, or during a specific period, esp. by a theater, nightclub, sports arena, resort hotel, or the like.
Informal. a way of getting ahead or gaining an advantage: The manufacturer regards the new appliance as its handle on the Christmas market.
–verb (used with object)
8.
to touch, pick up, carry, or feel with the hand or hands; use the hands on; take hold of.
9.
to manage, deal with, or be responsible for: My wife handles the household accounts. This computer handles all our billing.
10.
to use or employ, esp. in a particular manner; manipulate: to handle color expertly in painting.
11.
to manage, direct, train, or control: to handle troops.
12.
to deal with (a subject, theme, argument, etc.): The poem handled the problem of instinct versus intellect.
13.
to deal with or treat in a particular way: to handle a person with tact.
14.
to deal or trade in: to handle dry goods.
–verb (used without object)
15.
to behave or perform in a particular way when handled, directed, managed, etc.: The troops handled well. The jet was handling poorly.
—Idioms
16.
fly off the handle, Informal. to become very agitated or angry, esp. without warning or adequate reason: I can't imagine why he flew off the handle like that.
17.
get or have a handle on, to acquire an understanding or knowledge of: Can you get a handle on what your new boss expects?
[Origin: bef. 900; (n.) ME handel, OE hand(e)le, deriv. of hand; (v.) ME handelen, OE handlian (c. G handlen, ON hǫndla to seize); deriv. of hand]
To deal with or have responsibility for; conduct: handles matters of corporate law.
To cope with or dispose of: handles problems efficiently.
To direct, execute, or dispose of: handle an investment.
To manage, administer to, or represent: handle a boxer.
To deal or trade in the purchase or sale of: a branch office that handles grain exports.
v.
intr.
To act or function in a given way while in operation: a car that handles well in the snow.
n.
A part that is designed to be held or operated with the hand.
An opportunity or a means for achieving a purpose.
Understanding or control: has a handle on the situation.
Slang A person's name.
Games The total amount of money bet on an event or over a set period of time.
[Middle English handelen, from Old English handlian.]
han'dle·less adj.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to use or operate with or as if with the hands. Handle applies widely and suggests competence: The lumberjack handled the ax expertly. The therapist handled every problem with sensitivity. Manipulate connotes skillful or artful management: The pilot confidently manipulated the controls in the cockpit.
When manipulate refers to people or personal affairs, it often implies deviousness or fraud in gaining an end: I realized I'd been manipulated into helping them. Wield implies freedom, skill, ease, and effectiveness in handling physical or figurative implements: Ready to make kindling, she wielded a hatchet. The mayor's speechwriter wields a persuasive pen.
It also connotes effectiveness in the exercise of intangibles such as authority or influence: The dictator wielded enormous power. Ply suggests industry and persistence: The hungry child was plying his knife and fork with gusto.
The term also applies to the regular and diligent engagement in a task or pursuit: She plies the banker's trade with great success. See Also Synonyms at touch, treat.
O.E. handle, formed from hand in the sense of a tool in the way thimble was formed from thumb. The verb is O.E. handlian "to touch or move with the hands." Akin to O.N. höndla "th seize, capture," Dan. handle "to trade, deal," Ger. handeln "to bargain, trade." The commercial sense was weaker in Eng. than in some other Gmc. languages, but it emerged in Amer.Eng. (1888) from the notion of something passing through one's hands. The slang sense of "nickname" is first recorded 1870. Handlebar first recorded 1887 (as two words), in reference to bicycles; of mustaches, it is first recorded 1933. To fly off the handle (1843) is a figurative reference to an axe head. To get a handle on "get control of" is first recorded 1972. Handler "boxer's assistant" (1950) was originally in dogfights or cockfights (1825).
the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it; "he grabbed the hammer by the handle"; "it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip"
verb
1.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of; "I can deal with this crew of workers"; "This blender can't handle nuts"; "She managed her parents' affairs after they got too old" [syn: manage]
2.
interact in a certain way; "Do right by her"; "Treat him with caution, please"; "Handle the press reporters gently" [syn: treat]
3.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression; "This book deals with incest"; "The course covered all of Western Civilization"; "The new book treats the history of China" [syn: cover]
4.
touch, lift, or hold with the hands; "Don't handle the merchandise"
5.
handle effectively; "The burglar wielded an axe"; "The young violinist didn't manage her bow very well" [syn: wield]
6.
show and train; "The prize-winning poodle was handled by Mrs. Priscilla Prescott"
the part of an object by which it may be held or grasped Example: I've broken the handle off this cup; You've got to turn the handle in order to open the door.
Arabic:
مِقْبَض، يَد
Chinese (Simplified):
把手
Chinese (Traditional):
把手
Czech:
rukojeť, držadlo, klika
Danish:
håndtag; hank
Dutch:
hengsel, handgreep, oor van kop of beker, deurkruk, hendel
Estonian:
sang, link, käepide
Finnish:
kahva, kädensija
French:
anse, poignée
German:
der Griff
Greek:
χερούλι,λαβή
Hungarian:
fogantyú
Icelandic:
handfang
Indonesian:
pegangan
Italian:
manico; maniglia
Japanese:
取っ手
Korean:
손잡이
Latvian:
rokturis; kāts; spals
Lithuanian:
rankena, rankenėlė
Norwegian:
håndtak, skaft, hank
Polish:
rączka, ucho, uchwyt, klamka
Portuguese (Brazil):
cabo, maçaneta
Portuguese (Portugal):
asa
Romanian:
mâner
Russian:
ручка, рукоятка
Slovak:
rukoväť, držadlo, kľučka; ucho, uško (na hrnci, pohári ap.)
Slovenian:
ročaj
Spanish:
mango; asa; manilla, pomo(puerta)
Swedish:
handtag
Turkish:
sap, kol
handle1[ˈhӕndl]verb
to touch or hold with the hand Example: Please wash your hands before handling food.
Arabic:
يَلْمَس
Chinese (Simplified):
触摸
Chinese (Traditional):
觸摸
Czech:
dotýkat se
Danish:
have at gøre med
Dutch:
behandelen, in de handen houden, door de handen laten gaan
Estonian:
puudutama
Finnish:
käsitellä
French:
manipuler
German:
anfassen
Greek:
αγγίζω, πιάνω
Hungarian:
hozzányúl
Icelandic:
handleika
Indonesian:
menangani
Italian:
toccare
Japanese:
手にする
Korean:
손을 대다
Latvian:
ņemt, *turēt rokās
Lithuanian:
liesti, imti
Norwegian:
ta på, *i, holde
Polish:
dotykać, manipulować
Portuguese (Brazil):
manipular
Portuguese (Portugal):
tocar em
Romanian:
a pune mâna pe
Russian:
касаться руками
Slovak:
dotýkať sa, ohmatať
Slovenian:
dotakniti se
Spanish:
manipular, manejar
Swedish:
ta i, beröra
Turkish:
ellemek
handle2[ˈhӕndl]verb
to control, manage or deal with Example: He'll never make a good teacher — he doesn't know how to handle children.
Arabic:
يَتَعامَل مع
Chinese (Simplified):
管理
Chinese (Traditional):
管理
Czech:
jednat
Danish:
tage sig af; have med at gøre
Dutch:
behandelen
Estonian:
käsitsema
Finnish:
käsitellä
French:
s'y prendre avec
German:
umgehen mit
Greek:
χειρίζομαι, κουμαντάρω
Hungarian:
irányít, kezel
Icelandic:
meðhöndla
Indonesian:
berurusan, menangani
Italian:
trattare
Japanese:
取り扱う
Korean:
지휘하다
Latvian:
izturēties
Lithuanian:
susitvarkyti su
Norwegian:
behandle, tumle med, styre
Polish:
obchodzić się z
Portuguese (Brazil):
lidar com
Portuguese (Portugal):
lidar com
Romanian:
a se purta, *a umbla cu
Russian:
обходиться
Slovak:
zaobchádzať s
Slovenian:
ravnati z
Spanish:
tratar
Swedish:
hantera, handskas med
Turkish:
idare etmek
handle3[ˈhӕndl]verb
to buy or sell; to deal in Example: I'm afraid we do not handle such goods in this shop.
Arabic:
يبيع أو يَشْتَري
Chinese (Simplified):
买卖
Chinese (Traditional):
買賣
Czech:
vést, prodávat
Danish:
handle med
Dutch:
handeldrijven, handelen in
Estonian:
kauplema
Finnish:
käydä kauppaa
French:
tenir, vendre
German:
handeln mit
Greek:
εμπορεύομαι
Hungarian:
kereskedik
Icelandic:
versla með, selja
Indonesian:
berdagang
Italian:
trattare
Japanese:
商う
Korean:
매매하다
Latvian:
tirgot
Lithuanian:
prekiauti
Norwegian:
forhandle, føre, handle med
Polish:
handlować
Portuguese (Brazil):
negociar
Portuguese (Portugal):
negociar
Romanian:
a ţine, a vinde
Russian:
торговать
Slovak:
predávať, držať
Slovenian:
trgovati
Spanish:
comerciar con, tratar
Swedish:
handla med, föra
Turkish:
alıp satmak
handle4[ˈhӕndl]verb
to treat in a particular way Example: Never handle animals roughly.
handle 1. A simple item of data that identifies a resource. For example, a Unix file handle identifies an open file and associated data such as whether it was opened for read or write and the current read/write position. On the Macintosh, a handle is a pointer to a pointer to some dynamically-allocated memory. The extra level of indirection allows on-the-fly memory compaction or garbage collection without invalidating application program references to the allocated memory. 2. An alias used intended to conceal a user's true identity in an electronic message. The term is common on Citizen's Band and other amateur radio but, in that context usually means the user's real name as FCC rules forbid concealing one's identity. Use of grandiose handles is characteristic of crackers, weenies, spods, and other lower forms of network life; true hackers travel on their own reputations. Compare nick. [The Jargon File] (2004-07-20)
Han"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handled; p. pr. & vb. n. Handling .] [OE. handlen, AS. handian; akin to D. handelen to trade, G. handeln. See Hand.]1. To touch; to feel with the hand; to use or hold with the hand. Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh. --Luke xxiv. 39. About his altar, handling holy things. --Milton. 2. To manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully. That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper. --Shak. 3. To accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands. The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year. --Sir W. Temple. 4. To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell; as, a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock. 5. To deal with; to make a business of. They that handle the law knew me not. --Jer. ii. 8. 6. To treat; to use, well or ill. How wert thou handled being prisoner. --Shak. 7. To manage; to control; to practice skill upon. You shall see how I will handle her. --Shak. 8. To use or manage in writing or speaking; to treat, as a theme, an argument, or an objection. We will handle what persons are apt to envy others. --Bacon. To handle without gloves. See under Glove. [Colloq.]
Han"dle\, n. [AS. handle. See Hand.]1. That part of vessels, instruments, etc., which is held in the hand when used or moved, as the haft of a sword, the knob of a door, the bail of a kettle, etc. 2. That of which use is made; the instrument for effecting a purpose; a tool. --South. To give a handle, to furnish an occasion or means.
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Audio Help [han-dl] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -dled, -dling. 
