palm 1 (päm)n.1. a. The inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the base of the fingers.b. The similar part of the forefoot of a quadruped.2. A unit of length equal to either the width or the length of the hand.3. The part of a glove or mitten that covers the palm of the hand.4. Nautical A metal shield worn by sailmakers over the palm of the hand and used to force a needle through heavy canvas.5. Nautical The blade of an oar or paddle.6. The flattened part of the antlers of certain animals, such as the moose.tr.v. palmed, palm·ing, palms 1. a. To hold in the palm of the hand.b. To touch or stroke with the palm of the hand.2. To conceal in the palm of the hand, as in cheating at dice or cards or in a sleight-of-hand trick.3. To pick up furtively.4. Basketball To commit a violation by letting (the ball) rest momentarily in the palm of the hand while dribbling.Phrasal Verb: palm off To dispose of or pass off by deception.Idiom: an itchy palm A strong desire for money, especially bribes.[Middle English paume, from Old French, from Latin palma, palm tree, palm of the hand; see pel?- in Indo-European roots.]palm?ful? n.palm 2 (päm)n.1. Any of numerous chiefly tropical evergreen trees, shrubs, or woody vines of the family Arecaceae (or Palmae), characteristically having an unbranched trunk with a crown of large pinnate or palmate leaves having conspicuous parallel venation.2. A leaf of a palm tree, regarded as an emblem of victory, success, or joy.3. A small metallic representation of a palm leaf added to a military decoration that has been awarded more than one time.[Middle English, from Old English and from Old French palme, both from Latin palma, palm of the hand, palm tree (from the shape of the tree’s fronds); see pel?- in Indo-European roots.]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.palm (p??m) n1. (Anatomy) the inner part of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers. 2. (Zoology) a corresponding part in animals, esp apes and monkeys3. (Units) a linear measure based on the breadth or length of a hand, equal to three to four inches or seven to ten inches respectively4. (Clothing & Fashion) the part of a glove that covers the palm5. (Nautical Terms) a hard leather shield worn by sailmakers to protect the palm of the hand6. (Nautical Terms) a. the side of the blade of an oar that faces away from the direction of a boat’s movement during a strokeb. the face of the fluke of an anchor7. (Zoology) a flattened or expanded part of the antlers of certain deer8. in the palm of one’s hand at one’s mercy or commandvb (tr) 9. to conceal in or about the hand, as in sleight-of-hand tricks10. to touch or soothe with the palm of the hand[C14 paume, via Old French from Latin palma; compare Old English folm palm of the hand, Greek palam?]palm (p??m) n1. (Plants) any treelike plant of the tropical and subtropical monocotyledonous family Arecaceae (formerly Palmae or Palmaceae), usually having a straight unbranched trunk crowned with large pinnate or palmate leaves2. a leaf or branch of any of these trees, a symbol of victory, success, etc3. merit or victory4. (Military) an emblem or insignia representing a leaf or branch worn on certain military decorations[Old English, from Latin palma, from the likeness of its spreading fronds to a hand; see palm1]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014palm1 (p?m) n. 1. the part of the inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the bases of the fingers. 2. the corresponding part of the forefoot of an animal. 3. the part of a glove covering this part of the hand. 4. a. a unit of measure ranging from 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm), based on the breadth of the hand. b. a unit of measure ranging from 7 to 10 inches (17.5 to 25 cm), based on the length of the hand. 5. the flat, expanded part of the antler of a deer. 6. a. the blade of an oar. b. the inner face of an anchor fluke. v.t. 7. to conceal in the palm. 8. to pick up stealthily. 9. to hold in the hand. 10. to impose (something) fraudulently: to palm stolen jewels on tourists. 11. to touch or stroke with the palm or hand. 12. to grip (a basketball) momentarily with the hand while dribbling: a rule violation. 13. palm off, to foist upon someone, as by deception or fraud: to palm off a forgery on a museum. [1300?50; Middle English paume, palme