handA. phalangesB. metacarpalsC. carpalshand (h?nd)n.1. a. 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.b. A homologous or similar part in other animals, as the terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates.2. A unit of length equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used especially to specify the height of a horse.3. Something suggesting the shape or function of the human hand, especially:a. Any of the rotating pointers used as indexes on the face of a mechanical clock.b. A pointer, as on a gauge or dial.4. Printing See index.5. Lateral direction indicated according to the way in which one is facing: at my right hand.6. a. A style or individual sample of writing.b. A signature: put my hand to the contract.7. A round of applause to signify approval.8. Physical assistance; help: gave me a hand with the bags.9. hands Sports A hand ball in soccer.10. Games a. The cards held in a card game by a given player at any time.b. The number of cards dealt each player; the deal.c. A player or participant in a card game: We need a fourth hand for bridge.d. A portion or section of a game during which all the cards dealt out are played: a hand of poker.11. a. One who performs manual labor: a factory hand.b. One who is part of a group or crew: the ship’s hands.12. A participant in an activity, often one who specializes in a particular activity or pursuit: an old hand at labor negotiations.13. a. The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability: heard the scandalous tale at third hand.b. The strength or force of one’s position: negotiated from a strong hand.14. a. often hands Possession, ownership, or keeping: The books should be in your hands by noon.b. Power; jurisdiction; care: The defendant’s fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef’s hands.15. a. Involvement or participation: “In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries” (John Reed).b. An influence or effect: The manager had a hand in all major decisions.c. Evidence of craft or artistic skill: can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems.16. An aptitude or ability: I tried my hand at decorating.17. The aesthetic feel or tactile quality of something, such as a fabric, textile, or carpeting, that indicates its fineness, texture, and durability.18. A manner or way of performing something: a light hand with makeup.19. a. Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed.b. 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.1. To give or pass with or as if with the hands; transmit: Hand me your keys.2. To aid, direct, or conduct with the hands: The usher handed the patron to a reserved seat.3. Nautical To roll up and secure (a sail); furl.4. Sports a. To give (the ball) directly to a teammate, as in football. Often used with off.b. 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 down1. To bequeath to one’s heirs.2. To make and pronounce (an official decision, especially a court verdict). hand on To turn over to another. hand out1. To distribute freely; disseminate.2. To administer or deal out. hand over To release or relinquish to another. hand up To deliver (an indictment) to a higher judicial authority.Idioms: at hand1. Close by; near.2. Soon in time; imminent: Retribution is at hand.3. Under discussion: Let’s keep to the matter at hand.at the hand/hands of By or through the agency of: favors he received at the hands of his uncle. by hand By using the hands; manually. get/lay (one’s) hands on To get possession of; acquire or obtain. hand and foot With concerted, never-ending effort: had to wait on them hand and foot. 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). hand in hand In cooperation; jointly. hand it to Informal To give credit to: You’ve got to hand it to her; she knows what she’s doing. hand over fist At a tremendous rate: made money hand over fist. hands down1. With no trouble; easily.2. Indisputably; unquestionably. in hand1. In one’s possession: arrived with the contract in hand.2. Under control: kept the tense situation in hand.3. Under consideration: gave her attention to the matter in hand.4. In preparation or process: With the work finally in hand, we began to see progress.5. 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. 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. on hand1. Present; available: Are there enough people on hand to hold a meeting?2. About to happen; imminent: What is on hand for this evening? on/upon (one’s) hands In one’s possession, often as an imposed responsibility or burden: Now they have the grandchildren on their hands. on one/the one hand As one point of view; from one standpoint. on the other hand As another point of view; from another standpoint. out of hand1. Out of control: Employee absenteeism has gotten out of hand.2. Without consideration; immediately: dismissed my complaint out of hand. to hand1. Nearby.2. In one’s possession.[Middle English, from Old English.]hand?er n.hand?less adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.hand (hænd) n1. (Anatomy) a. the prehensile part of the body at the end of the arm, consisting of a thumb, four fingers, and a palmb. the bones of this part. manual2. (Anatomy) the corresponding or similar part in animals3. something resembling this in shape or function4. (Card Games) a. the cards dealt to one or all players in one round of a card gameb. a player holding such cardsc. one round of a card game5. agency or influence: the hand of God. 6. a part in something done: he had a hand in the victory. 7. assistance: to give someone a hand with his work. 8. (Horology) a pointer on a dial, indicator, or gauge, esp on a clock: the minute hand. 9. acceptance or pledge of partnership, as in marriage: he asked for her hand; he gave me his hand on the merger. 10. a position or direction indicated by its location to the side of an object or the observer: on the right hand; on every hand. 11. a contrastive aspect, condition, etc (in the phrases on the one hand, on the other hand)12. (preceded by an ordinal number) source or origin: a story heard at third hand. 13. a person, esp one who creates something: a good hand at painting. 14. (Industrial Relations & HR Terms) a labourer or manual worker: we’ve just taken on a new hand at the farm. 15. (Nautical Terms) a member of a ship’s crew: all hands on deck. 16. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing another name for index917. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) a person’s handwriting: the letter was in his own hand. 18. a round of applause: give him a hand. 19. ability or skill: a hand for woodwork. 20. a manner or characteristic way of doing something: the hand of a master. 21. (Units) a unit of length measurement equalling four inches, used for measuring the height of horses, usually from the front hoof to the withers22. a cluster or bundle, esp of bananas23. (Cookery) a shoulder of pork24. one of the two possible mirror-image forms of an asymmetric object, such as the direction of the helix in a screw thread25. a free hand freedom to do as desired26. a hand’s turn (usually used with a negative) a small amount of work: he hasn’t done a hand’s turn. 27. a heavy hand tyranny, persecution, or oppression: he ruled with a heavy hand. 28. a high hand an oppressive or dictatorial manner29. at hand near at hand very near or close, esp in time30. at someone’s hand at someone’s hands from: the acts of kindness received at their hands. 31. by hand a. by manual rather than mechanical meansb. by messenger or personally: the letter was delivered by hand. 32. come to hand to become available; be received33. force someone’s hand to force someone to act34. from hand to hand from one person to another35. from hand to mouth a. in poverty: living from hand to mouth. b. without preparation or planning36. hand and foot in all ways possible; completely: they waited on him hand and foot. 37. hand in glove in an intimate relationship or close association38. hand in hand a. together; jointlyb. clasping each other’s hands39. hand over fist steadily and quickly; with rapid progress: he makes money hand over fist. 40. hold one’s hand to stop or postpone a planned action or punishment41. hold someone’s hand to support, help, or guide someone, esp by giving sympathy or moral support42. in hand a. in possessionb. under controlc. receiving attention or being acted ond. available for use; in reservee. with deferred payment: he works a week in hand. 43. keep one’s hand in to continue or practise44. lend a hand to help45. on hand close by; present: I’ll be on hand to help you. 46. out of hand a. beyond controlb. without reservation or deeper examination: he condemned him out of hand. 47. set one’s hand to a. to sign (a document)b. to start (a task or undertaking)48. show one’s hand to reveal one’s stand, opinion, or plans49. take in hand to discipline; control50. throw one’s hand in See throw in351. to hand accessible52. try one’s hand to attempt to do something53. (modifier) a. of or involving the hand: a hand grenade. b. made to be carried in or worn on the hand: hand luggage. c. operated by hand: a hand drill. 54. (in combination) made by hand rather than by a machine: hand-sewn. vb (tr) 55. to transmit or offer by the hand or hands56. to help or lead with the hand57. (Nautical Terms) nautical to furl (a sail)58. hand it to someone to give credit to someone[Old English hand; related to Old Norse hönd, Gothic handus, Old High German hant] ?handless adj ?hand?like adjHAND abbreviation for (Telecommunications) have a nice day Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014hand (hænd) n. 1. the terminal, prehensile part of the arm in humans and higher primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpals, fingers, and thumb. 2. the corresponding part of the forelimb in any four-legged vertebrate. 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: the hands of a clock. 5. index (def. 5). 6. a person employed in manual labor or for general duty: a ranch hand. 7. a person with great skill in or knowledge of something, esp. through long experience: an old hand at fund-raising. 8. a person with reference to an ability or skill: a poor hand at running a business. 9. skill; workmanship; characteristic touch: The painting shows a master’s hand. 10. Often, hands. possession or power; control, custody, or care: My fate is in your hands. 11. a position, esp. one of control, used for bargaining, negotiating, etc. 12. means; agency; instrumentality: death by his own hand. 13. assistance; aid: Give me a hand with this ladder. 14. side; direction: no traffic on either hand of the road. 15. style of handwriting; penmanship. 16. a person’s signature: to set one’s hand to a document. 17. a round or outburst of applause for a performer. 18. a promise or pledge, esp. in marriage. 19. a linear measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used esp. in determining the height of horses. 20. Cards. a. the cards dealt to or held by each player at one time. b. the person holding the cards. c. a single part of a game, in which all the cards dealt at one time are played. 21. a bunch, cluster, or bundle of leaves, fruit, or the like. 22. 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. 23. the properties of a fabric that can be sensed by touching it, as resilience and smoothness. v.t. 24. to deliver or pass with or as if with the hand. 25. to help, assist, guide, etc., with the hand. 26. to give or provide with: That handed me a laugh. 27. hand down, a. to deliver (the decision of a court). b. to transmit, esp. to a succeeding generation. 28. hand in, to submit; present for acceptance. 29. hand off, Football. to hand the ball to a member of one’s team in the course of a play. 30. hand on, to transmit; pass on to a successor, posterity, etc. 31. hand out, to give or distribute; pass out. 32. hand over, to deliver to another; surrender control of. adj. 33. of, belonging to, using, or used by the hand. 34. made by hand. 35. carried in or worn on the hand. 36. operated by hand; manual. Idioms: 1. at hand, a. within reach; ready for use; accessible. b. about to happen. 2. at the hand(s) of, by the action of; through the agency of. 3. by hand, by using the hands, as opposed to machines; manually. 4. change hands, to pass from one owner to another. 5. eat out of someone’s hand, to be totally submissive to another. 6. force someone’s hand, to compel a person to do or disclose something before he or she is ready to do so. 7. from hand to mouth, with nothing in reserve; precariously. 8. hand and foot, with slavish attentiveness: to wait on someone hand and foot. 9. hand in or and glove, in close association, esp. for nefarious purposes. 10. hand in hand, a. alongside one another while holding hands. b. closely associated; in cooperation. 11. hand over fist, speedily; increasingly: making money hand over fist. 12. hands down, a. effortlessly; easily. b. indisputably; incontestably. 13. hand to hand, in direct combat; at close quarters. 14. have a hand in, to participate in. 15. in hand, a. under control. b. in one’s possession. c. in the process of consideration or settlement. 16. join hands, to unite in a common cause; combine. 17. keep one’s hand in, to continue to work at or practice so as not to lose one’s skill or knowledge. 18. lay hands on, a. to obtain; acquire. b. to seize, esp. in order to punish. c. to impose the hands on in a ceremonial fashion, as in ordination. 19. on all hands or every hand, everywhere. 20. on hand, a. in one’s possession; at one’s disposal: cash on hand. b. present. 21. out of hand, a. completely out of control. b. without delay or deliberation. 22. show one’s hand, to disclose one’s true motives. 23. sit on one’s hands, a. to fail to applaud. b. to fail to take appropriate action. 24. the back of one’s or the hand to, one’s contempt or rejection for. 25. to hand, a. within reach; accessible or nearby. b. into one’s possession or view. 26. try one’s hand at, to undertake so as to test one’s aptitude for. 27. turn or put one’s hand to, to set to work at; busy oneself with. 28. wash one’s hands of, to abandon any further responsibility for. 29. with a heavy hand, a. with severity; oppressively. b. in a clumsy manner; awkwardly; gracelessly. [before 900; Middle English, Old English, c. Old Saxon hand, Old High German hant, Old Norse h?nd, Gothic handus] Hand (hænd) n. Lear?ned (?l?r n?d) 1872?1961, U.S. jurist. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Hand a round of applause, 1590; something resembling a hand in appearance or function. See also bunch.Examples: hand of applause, 1590; of bananas, 1881; of bridge; of cards, 1630; of herrings [five], 1861; of oranges [five], 1851; of tobacco, 1726; of whist, 1771.Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.