hand

hand ► NOUN 1) the end part of the arm beyond the wrist. 2) (before another noun ) operated by or held in the hand. 3) (before another noun or in combination ) done or made manually. 4) a pointer on a clock or watch indicating the passing of units of time. 5) (hands) a person's power or control: taking the law into their own hands. 6) an active role. 7) help in doing something. 8) a person engaging in manual labour. 9) informal a round of applause. 10) the set of cards dealt to a player in a card game. 11) a person's handwriting or workmanship. 12) a pledge of marriage by a woman. 13) a unit of measurement of a horse's height, equal to 4 inches (10.16 cm). [ORIGIN: denoting the breadth of a hand.]

► VERB 1) give to. 2) hold the hand of, in order to assist.

● at hand — Cf. ↑at hand

● by hand — Cf. ↑by hand

● get (or keep) one's hand in — Cf. ↑keep one's hand in

● hand down — Cf. ↑hand down

● hand in glove — Cf. ↑hand in glove

● hand in hand — Cf. ↑hand in hand

● hand out — Cf. ↑hand out

● (from) hand to mouth — Cf. ↑hand to mouth

● hands down — Cf. ↑hands down

● hands-off — Cf. ↑hands-off

● hands-on — Cf. ↑hands-on

● have to hand it to someone — Cf. ↑have to hand it to someone

● in hand — Cf. ↑in hand

● in safe hands — Cf. ↑in safe hands

● make (or lose or spend) money hand over fist — Cf. ↑spend money hand over fist

● many hands make light work — Cf. ↑many hands make light work

● on hand — Cf. ↑on hand

● on someone's hands — Cf. ↑on someone's hands

● on the one (or the other) hand — Cf. ↑on the the other hand

● out of hand — Cf. ↑out of hand

● to hand — Cf. ↑to hand

● turn one's hand to — Cf. ↑turn one's hand to

● wait on someone hand and foot — Cf. ↑wait on someone hand and foot

ORIGIN Old English.