hand

/hænd/

Friendly

Word: Hand

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Academic

Noun

1. physical assistance
   • give me a hand with the chores
2. 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
3. a round of applause to signify approval
   • give the little lady a great big hand
4. a card player in a game of bridge
   • we need a 4th hand for bridge
5. a member of the crew of a ship
   • all hands on deck
6. a unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses
   • the horse stood 20 hands
7. a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece
   • the big hand counts the minutes
8. one of two sides of an issue
   • on the one hand..., but on the other hand...
9. 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
10. a position given by its location to the side of an object
    • objections were voiced on every hand
11. ability
    • he wanted to try his hand at singing
12. something written by hand
    • she recognized his handwriting
    • his hand was illegible
13. a hired laborer on a farm or ranch
    • the hired hand fixed the railing
    • a ranch hand
14. the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
    • he had the hands of a surgeon
    • he extended his mitt

Verb

1. guide or conduct or usher somewhere
   • hand the elderly lady into the taxi
2. 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

Synonyms

• helping hand
• bridge player
• deal
• handwriting
• script
• hired hand
• hired man
• manus
• mitt
• paw
• pass
• reach
• pass on
• turn over
• give