hand

noun

UK /hænd/

Word Forms

singular	hand
plural	hands

1
countable the part of your body at the end of each arm that you use for picking up and holding things
Mrs Bennet put her hands over her ears to shut out the noise.
have/hold something in your hand:
He was holding a mug of coffee in his left hand.
hold someone’s hand:
He sat by the bed and held her hand.
hold hands (=hold each other’s hands):
The park was full of young couples holding hands.
take someone by the hand:
George took her by the hand and helped her out of the car.
hand in hand (=holding each other’s hand):
They walked along the cliff top hand in hand.
shake hands:
The two men introduced themselves and shook hands.
Synonyms and related words
General words for limbs and appendages
ankle
appendage
arch
2
countable someone who does physical work
Synonyms and related words
General words for workers and types of worker
ancillary
apparatchik
auxiliary
1. 2a
  someone who works on a farm
  It was a large farm, with over 20 hired hands.
  Synonyms and related words
  Farmers and people who work on farms
  bailiff
  cattleman
  cowboy
2. 2b
  someone who works on a ship
  Synonyms and related words
  Sailors and people who work on boats and ships
  boatman
  boatswain
  bosun
3
singular help
give someone a hand (=help someone):
Can you give me a hand with these boxes?
like/want/need a hand:
Would you like a hand with the cleaning up?
lend a hand (=help):
Lydia lent a hand (=helped) with the costumes.
Synonyms and related words
Help
help
contribution
assistance
4
singular if people give someone a hand, they clap their hands to show that they have enjoyed a performance
a big hand for someone:
A big hand for the band, ladies and gentlemen!
give someone a big hand:
Let’s give the children a big hand.
Synonyms and related words
Communicative sounds
applause
a round of applause
a snap of the fingers
5
countable the particular set of cards that have been given to you in a game of cards
Synonyms and related words
Relating to card games
bid
call
cards
6
singular informalthe advantages you have that give you a chance to be successful in a particular situation
play your hand (=use your advantages):
Everything depends on how the company plays its hand.
Synonyms and related words
Advantages and benefits
advantage
benefit
good
See alsoshow
7
countable the hands on a clock are the long parts that move round and show the time
Synonyms and related words
Parts of clocks and watches
crystal
dial
face
8
countable a unit for measuring how tall a horse is
Synonyms and related words
Horse riding
bareback
be in the saddle
break in
9
countable mainly literarysomeone’s handwriting
The manuscript was written in the author’s own hand.
Synonyms and related words
Handwriting and spelling
calligraphy
crabbed
cursive
10
tip your hand
to reveal information everyone wants to get, especially inadvertently so
He hasn’t tipped his hand yet whether he is going to run for mayor.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 27/07/2017
Open Dictionary - July2017
11
be dealt a good/bad etc. hand
to be lucky/unlucky in life
Steve had an accident in the morning, then he lost his job. Some people are dealt a lousy hand.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 24/12/2018
Open Dictionary - December2018
12
give/lend someone a helping hand
to help someone
She’s always ready to give her friends a helping hand.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 20/01/2019
Open Dictionary - January2019

phrases

at hand

at the hands of someone

by hand

first/second/third hand

get/lay your hands on something

go hand in hand

hand in glove

someone’s hand in marriage

hand over fist

someone’s hands are tied

hands off

hands up

have a hand in something

have someone/something on your hands

have time on your hands

have your hands full

in hand

in someone’s hands

keep your hand in

keep your hands off

off your hands

on the one hand...on the other hand

on (your) hands and knees

out of hand

out of your hands

put your hands together for someone

sit on your hands

take/get your hands off

take someone in hand

to hand

turn your hand to something

hand

noun

US /hænd/

Word Forms

singular	hand
plural	hands

1
countable the part of your body at the end of each arm that you use for picking up and holding things
Mrs. Bennet put her hands over her ears to shut out the noise.
have/hold something in your hand:
He was holding a cup of coffee in his left hand.
hold someone’s hand:
He sat by the bed and held her hand.
take someone by the hand:
George took her by the hand and helped her out of the car.
hold hands (=hold each other’s hands):
The park was full of young couples holding hands.
hand in hand (=holding each other’s hand):
They walked along the cliff top hand in hand.
shake hands:
The two men introduced themselves and shook hands.
Synonyms and related words
General words for limbs and appendages
ankle
appendage
arch
2
singular help
give someone a hand (=help someone):
Can you give me a hand with these boxes?
like/want/need a hand:
Do you need a hand with the dusting?
lend a hand (=help):
Lydia said she would lend a hand (=help) with the costumes.
Synonyms and related words
Help
help
contribution
assistance
3
singular if people give someone a hand, they clap their hands to show that they have enjoyed a performance
a big hand for someone:
A big hand for the band, ladies and gentlemen!
give someone a big hand:
Let’s give the children a big hand.
Synonyms and related words
Communicative sounds
applause
a round of applause
a snap of the fingers
4
countable the hands on a clock are the long parts that move around and show the time
Synonyms and related words
Parts of clocks and watches
crystal
dial
face
5
countable the particular set of cards that have been given to you in a game of cards
Synonyms and related words
Relating to card games
bid
call
cards
6
singular informalthe advantages you have that give you a chance to be successful in a particular situation
play your hand (=use your advantages):
Everything depends on how the company plays its hand.
Synonyms and related words
Advantages and benefits
advantage
benefit
good
See alsoshow
7
countable someone who does physical work
Synonyms and related words
General words for workers and types of worker
ancillary
apparatchik
auxiliary
1. 7a
  someone who works on a farm
  It was a large farm, with over 20 hired hands.
  Synonyms and related words
  Farmers and people who work on farms
  buckaroo
  cattleman
  cowboy
2. 7b
  someone who works on a ship
  Synonyms and related words
  Sailors and people who work on boats and ships
  boatman
  boatswain
  bosun
8
countable mainly literarysomeone’s handwriting
Synonyms and related words
Handwriting and spelling
calligraphy
crabbed
cursive
9
countable a unit for measuring how tall a horse is
Synonyms and related words
Horse riding
bareback
be in the saddle
break in
10
tip your hand
to reveal information everyone wants to get, especially inadvertently so
He hasn’t tipped his hand yet whether he is going to run for mayor.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 27/07/2017
Open Dictionary - July2017
11
be dealt a good/bad etc. hand
to be lucky/unlucky in life
Steve had an accident in the morning, then he lost his job. Some people are dealt a lousy hand.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 24/12/2018
Open Dictionary - December2018
12
give/lend someone a helping hand
to help someone
She’s always ready to give her friends a helping hand.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 20/01/2019
Open Dictionary - January2019

phrases

at hand

at the hands of someone

by hand

first/second/third hand

get/lay your hands on something

go hand in hand

hand in glove

someone’s hand in marriage

hand over fist

someone’s hands are tied

hands off

hands up

have a hand in something

have someone/something on your hands

have time on your hands

have your hands full

in hand

in someone’s hands

keep your hand in

keep your hands off

off hand

on the one hand...on the other hand

on (your) hands and knees

out of hand

out of your hands

put your hands together for someone

sit on your hands

take/get your hands off

take someone in hand

to hand

turn your hand to something

hand

verb transitive

UK /hænd/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	hand
he/she/it	hands
present participle	handing
past tense	handed
past participle	handed

1
to give something to someone by holding it in your hand and offering it to them
hand something to someone:
Talbot handed the paper to the man.
hand someone something:
Sarah handed me an envelope.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to give
give
present
hand

phrases

you have to hand it to someone

phrasal verbs

hand back

hand down

hand in

hand on

hand out

hand over

hand round

hand

verb transitive

US /hænd/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	hand
he/she/it	hands
present participle	handing
past tense	handed
past participle	handed

1
to give something to someone by holding it in your hand and offering it to them
hand something to someone:
Talbot handed the paper to the man.
hand someone something:
Sarah handed me an envelope.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to give
give
present
hand

phrases

you have to hand it to someone

phrasal verbs

hand back

hand down

hand in

hand on

hand out

hand over

hand ​‌‌‌

tip your hand

be dealt a good/bad etc. hand

give/lend someone a helping hand

hand ​‌‌‌

tip your hand

be dealt a good/bad etc. hand

give/lend someone a helping hand

hand ​‌‌‌

hand ​‌‌‌

hand

hand

hand

hand