Meaning & Definition of Hand in English

1. The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

• "He had the hands of a surgeon"

• "He extended his mitt"

2. A hired laborer on a farm or ranch

• "The hired hand fixed the railing"

• "A ranch hand"

3. Something written by hand

• "She recognized his handwriting"

• "His hand was illegible"

4. Ability

• "He wanted to try his hand at singing"

5. A position given by its location to the side of an object

• "Objections were voiced on every hand"

6. The cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time

• "I didn't hold a good hand all evening"

• "He kept trying to see my hand"

7. One of two sides of an issue

• "On the one hand..., but on the other hand..."

8. A rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece

• "The big hand counts the minutes"

9. A unit of length equal to 4 inches

• Used in measuring horses

• "The horse stood 20 hands"

10. A member of the crew of a ship

• "All hands on deck"

11. A card player in a game of bridge

• "We need a 4th hand for bridge"

12. A round of applause to signify approval

• "Give the little lady a great big hand"

13. Terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos)

• "The kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting"- springfield (mass.) union

14. Physical assistance

• "Give me a hand with the chores"

1. Place into the hands or custody of

• "Hand me the spoon, please"

• "Turn the files over to me, please"

• "He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers"

2. Guide or conduct or usher somewhere

• "Hand the elderly lady into the taxi"