handle
- 12 dictionary resultshan⋅dle
[han-dl]
noun, verb, -dled, -dling.| 1. | 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.
|
| 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. |
| 6. | hand (def. 27). |
| 7. | Informal. a way of getting ahead or gaining an advantage: The manufacturer regards the new appliance as its handle on the Christmas market. |
| 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. |
| 15. | to behave or perform in a particular way when handled, directed, managed, etc.: The troops handled well. The jet was handling poorly. |
| 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? |
hand
[hand]
| 1. | the terminal, prehensile part of the upper limb in humans and other primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpal area, fingers, and thumb. |
| 2. | the corresponding part of the forelimb in any of the higher vertebrates. |
| 3. | a terminal prehensile part, as the chela of a crustacean, or, in falconry, the foot of a falcon. |
| 4. | something resembling a hand in shape or function, as various types of pointers: the hands of a clock. |
| 5. | index (def. 8). |
| 6. | a person employed in manual labor or for general duties; worker; laborer: a factory hand; a ranch hand. |
| 7. | a person who performs or is capable of performing a specific work, skill, or action: a real hand at geometry. |
| 8. | skill; workmanship; characteristic touch: a painting that shows a master's hand. |
| 9. | a person, with reference to ability or skill: He was a poor hand at running a business. |
| 10. | a member of a ship's crew: All hands on deck! |
| 11. | Often, hands. possession or power; control, custody, or care: to have someone's fate in one's hands. |
| 12. | a position, esp. one of control, used for bargaining, negotiating, etc.: an action to strengthen one's hand. |
| 13. | means, agency; instrumentality: death by his own hand. |
| 14. | assistance; aid; active participation or cooperation: Give me a hand with this ladder. |
| 15. | side; direction: no traffic on either hand of the road. |
| 16. | style of handwriting; penmanship: She wrote in a beautiful hand. |
| 17. | a person's signature: to set one's hand to a document. |
| 18. | a round or outburst of applause for a performer: to get a hand. |
| 19. | a promise or pledge, as of marriage: He asked for her hand in marriage. |
| 20. | a linear measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used esp. in determining the height of horses. |
| 21. | Cards.
|
| 22. | Roman Law. manus (def. 2). |
| 23. | hands, Manège. skill at manipulating the reins of a horse: To ride well, one must have good hands. |
| 24. | a bunch, cluster, or bundle of various leaves, fruit, etc., as a bundle of tobacco leaves tied together or a cluster of bananas. |
| 25. | Machinery. the deviation of a thread or tooth from the axial direction of a screw or gear, as seen from one end looking away toward the other. |
| 26. | Building Trades.
|
| 27. | Also called handle. the fabric properties that can be sensed by touching the material, as resilience, smoothness, or body: the smooth hand of satin. |
| 28. | Archaic. a person considered as a source, as of information or of supply. |
| 29. | to deliver or pass with or as if with the hand. |
| 30. | to help, assist, guide, etc., with the hand: He handed the elderly woman across the street. |
| 31. | Nautical.
|
| 32. | of, belonging to, using, or used by the hand. |
| 33. | made by hand. |
| 34. | carried in or worn on the hand. |
| 35. | operated by hand; manual. |
| 36. | hand down,
|
| 37. | hand in, to submit; present for acceptance: She handed in her term paper after the deadline. |
| 38. | hand off, Football. to hand the ball to a member of one's team in the course of a play. |
| 39. | hand on, to transmit; pass on to a successor, posterity, etc.: The silver service was handed on to the eldest daughter of the family. |
| 40. | hand out, to give or distribute; pass out: People were handing out leaflets on every corner. |
| 41. | hand over,
|
| 42. | at first hand, firsthand (def. 1). |
| 43. | at hand,
|
| 44. | at second hand, second hand (def. 3). |
| 45. | at the hand or hands of, by the action of; through the agency of: They suffered at the hands of their stepfather. |
| 46. | by hand, by using the hands, as opposed to machines; manually: lace made by hand. |
| 47. | change hands, to pass from one owner to another; change possession: The property has changed hands several times in recent years. |
| 48. | come to hand,
|
| 49. | eat out of one's hand, to be totally submissive to another; be very attentive or servile: That spoiled brat has her parents eating out of her hand. |
| 50. | force one's hand, to prompt a person to take immediate action or to reveal his or her intentions: The criticism forced the governor's hand so that he had to declare his support of the tax bill. |
| 51. | from hand to hand, from one person to another; through successive ownership or possession: The legendary jewel went from hand to hand. |
| 52. | from hand to mouth, improvidently; precariously; with nothing in reserve: They looked forward to a time when they would no longer have to live from hand to mouth. |
| 53. | give one's hand on or upon, to give one's word; seal a bargain by or as if by shaking hands: He said the goods would be delivered within a month and gave them his hand on it. |
| 54. | hand and foot,
|
| 55. | hand and glove, very intimately associated: Several high-ranking diplomats were found to be hand and glove with enemy agents. Also, hand in glove. |
| 56. | hand in hand,
|
| 57. | hand in one's checks, Chiefly British. cash (def. 7). |
| 58. | hand it to, Informal. to give just credit to; pay respect to: You have to hand it to her for getting the work out. |
| 59. | hand over fist, speedily; increasingly: He owns a chain of restaurants and makes money hand over fist. |
| 60. | hands down,
|
| 61. | hands off! don't touch, strike, or interfere! keep away from!: Hands off my stereo! |
| 62. | hands up! hold your hands above your head! give up! |
| 63. | hand to hand, in direct combat; at close quarters: The troops fought hand to hand. |
| 64. | have a hand in, to have a share in; participate in: It is impossible that she could have had a hand in this notorious crime. |
| 65. | have one's hands full, to have a large or excessive amount of work to handle; be constantly busy: The personnel department has its hands full trying to process the growing number of applications. |
| 66. | hold hands, to join hands with another person as a token of affection: They have been seen holding hands in public. |
| 67. | in hand,
|
| 68. | join hands, to unite in a common cause; combine: The democracies must join hands in order to survive. |
| 69. | keep one's hand in, to continue to practice: He turned the business over to his sons, but he keeps his hand in it. I just play enough golf to keep my hand in. |
| 70. | lay one's hands on,
|
| 71. | lend or give a hand, to lend assistance; help out: Lend a hand and we'll finish the job in no time. |
| 72. | lift a hand, to exert any effort: She wouldn't lift a hand to help anyone. Also, lift a finger. |
| 73. | off one's hands,
|
| 74. | on all hands,
|
| 75. | on hand,
|
| 76. | on the other hand, from another side or aspect; conversely: It was an unfortunate experience, but, on the other hand, one can learn from one's mistakes. |
| 77. | on or upon one's hands, under one's care or management; as one's responsibility: He was left with a large surplus on his hands. |
| 78. | out of hand,
|
| 79. | shake hands, to clasp another's hand in greeting, congratulation, or agreement: They shook hands on the proposed partnership. |
| 80. | show one's hand, to disclose or display one's true intentions or motives: The impending revolution forced him to show his hand. |
| 81. | sit on one's hands,
|
| 82. | take a hand in, to take part in; participate in: If the strike continues, the government will have to take a hand in the negotiations. |
| 83. | take in hand,
|
| 84. | throw up one's hands, to admit one's inadequacy, exasperation, or failure; despair: When the general received reports of an enemy build-up, he threw up his hands. |
| 85. | tie one's hands, to render one powerless to act; thwart: The provisions of the will tied his hands. Also, have one's hands tied. |
| 86. | tip one's hand, to reveal one's plans or intentions before the propitious time. |
| 87. | to hand,
|
| 88. | try one's hand (at), to test one's skill or aptitude for: After becoming a successful painter, he decided to try his hand at sculpture. |
| 89. | turn or put one's hand to, to set to work at; busy oneself with: He turned his hand successfully to gardening. |
| 90. | wash one's hands of, to disclaim any further responsibility for; renounce interest in or support of: I washed my hands of the entire affair. |
| 91. | with a heavy hand,
|
| 92. | with a high hand, in an arrogant or dictatorial manner; arbitrarily: He ran the organization with a high hand. |
bef. 900; ME, OE; c. D, G Hand, ON hǫnd, Goth handus

Related forms:
16. script, calligraphy, longhand.
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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han·dle (hān'dl) v. han·dled, han·dling, han·dles v. tr.
To act or function in a given way while in operation: a car that handles well in the snow. n.
[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. |
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Handle
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.]Handle
Han"dle\, v. i. To use the hands. They have hands, but they handle not. --Ps. cxv. 7.Handle
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.Cite This Source
handle
n.1. [from CB slang] An electronic pseudonym; a `nom de guerre' intended to conceal the user's true identity. Network and BBS handles function as the same sort of simultaneous concealment and display one finds on Citizen's Band radio, from which the term was adopted. Use of grandiose handles is characteristic of warez d00dz, crackers, weenies, spods, and other lower forms of network life; true hackers travel on their own reputations rather than invented legendry. Compare nick, screen name.
2. A magic cookie, often in the form of a numeric index into some array somewhere, through which you can manipulate an object like a file or window. The form `file handle' is especially common.
3. [Mac] A pointer to a pointer to dynamically-allocated memory; the extra level of indirection allows on-the-fly memory compaction (to cut down on fragmentation) or aging out of unused resources, with minimal impact on the (possibly multiple) parts of the larger program containing references to the allocated memory. Compare snap (to snap a handle would defeat its purpose); see also aliasing bug, dangling pointer.
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handle (n.)
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Handle
The whole dollar price, or stem, of a quote.
Investopedia Commentary
This term is usually used in the foreign currency and money markets.
For example, a foreign currency trading at 75.25 and a money market security trading at 75.75 both have handles of 75. Traders usually do not include the handles when quoting prices because it is assumed that involved traders already know them.
Related Links
Background To The Trade
The Basics Of Order Entry
See also: Big Figure, Bond, Floor Trader, Forex - FX, Security, Stock
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handle
- The whole dollar price of a bid or offer. A bid of $91.10 and an ask of $91.15 would have a handle of $91.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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handle
1.
2.
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)
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handle
In addition to the idioms beginning with handle, also see fly off the handle; get a fix (handle) on.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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