Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense palms, present participle palming, past tense, past participle palmed
1. variable noun
A palm or a palm tree is a tree that grows in hot countries. It has long leaves growing at the top, and no branches.
2. countable noun [usually poss NOUN]
The palmof your hand is the inside part.
Dornberg slapped the table with the palm of his hand. [+ of]
He wiped his sweaty palm.
Synonyms: hand, hook, paw [informal], mitt [slang] More Synonyms of palm
3.
See in the palm of one's hand
Phrasal verbs:
See palm off
See palm off with
More Synonyms of palm
palm in British English1
(pɑːm)
noun
1.
the inner part of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
▶ Related adjectives: thenar, volar
2.
a corresponding part in animals, esp apes and monkeys
3.
a linear measure based on the breadth or length of a hand, equal to three to four inches or seven to ten inches respectively
4.
the part of a glove that covers the palm
5.
a hard leather shield worn by sailmakers to protect the palm of the hand
6.
a.
the side of the blade of an oar that faces away from the direction of a boat's movement during a stroke
b.
the face of the fluke of an anchor
7.
a flattened or expanded part of the antlers of certain deer
8. in the palm of one's hand
verb(transitive)
9.
to conceal in or about the hand, as in sleight-of-hand tricks
10.
to touch or soothe with the palm of the hand
Word origin
C14 paume, via Old French from Latin palma; compare Old English folm palm of the hand, Greek palamē
palm in British English2
(pɑːm)
noun
1.
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 leaves
2.
a leaf or branch of any of these trees, a symbol of victory, success, etc
3.
merit or victory
4.
an emblem or insignia representing a leaf or branch worn on certain military decorations
Word origin
Old English, from Latin palma, from the likeness of its spreading fronds to a hand; see palm1
palm in American English1
(pɑm)
noun
1.
any of an order (Arecales) of tropical or subtropical monocotyledonous trees andshrubs, having a woody, usually unbranched, trunk and large, evergreen, featherlike or fan-shaped leaves growing in a bunch at the top
2.
a leaf of such a tree carried or worn as a symbol of victory, triumph, joy, etc.
3.
victory; triumph
4.
a representation of a palm leaf or frond given in lieu of a second award of the same military decoration
adjective
5.
designating the only family (Arecaceae) of palms, including the coconut palm, betel palm, and date palm
Idioms:
bear the palm
yield the palm to
Derived forms
palmaceous (palˈmaceous) (pælˈmeɪʃəs; pɑˈmeɪʃəs)
adjective
Word origin
ME palme < OE palm < L palma: so named because its leaf somewhat resembles the palm of the hand
palm in American English2
(pɑm)
noun
1.
the inner part or surface of the hand between the fingers and wrist
2.
the part of a glove, mitten, etc. that covers the palm
3.
the broad, flat part of an antler, as of a moose
4.
a unit of linear measure based either on the width of the hand (3 to 4 inches) or on its length (7 to 9 inches)
5.
any broad, flat part at the end of an arm, handle, etc.,
6.
a piece of leather, often with a metal disc attached, that fits over the palm of the hand, worn for protection in sewing heavy canvas or leather
verb transitive
7.
to hide (something) in the palm or between the fingers, as in a sleight-of-hand trick
8. US
to interrupt the dribbling of (a basketball) for an instant by grasping with the palm and fingers: such interrupting is illegal
Idioms:
have an itching palm
palm off
Word origin
altered (infl. by L) < ME paume < OFr < L palma, palm of the hand < IE base *pele-, broad, flat, spread out > floor, field