hand

Meanings

• the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
  • "he had the hands of a surgeon"
• a hired laborer on a farm or ranch
  • "the hired hand fixed the railing"
  • "a ranch hand"
• something written by hand
  • "she recognized his handwriting"
  • "his hand was illegible"
• ability
  • "he wanted to try his hand at singing"
• a position given by its location to the side of an object
  • "objections were voiced on every hand"
• 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"
• one of two sides of an issue
  • "on the one hand..., but on the other hand..."
• a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece
  • "the big hand counts the minutes"
• a unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses
  • "the horse stood 20 hands"
• a member of the crew of a ship
  • "all hands on deck"
• a card player in a game of bridge
  • "we need a 4th hand for bridge"
• a round of applause to signify approval
  • "give the little lady a great big hand"
• terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos); - Springfield (Mass.) Union
  • "the kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting"
• physical assistance
  • "give me a hand with the chores"
• place into the hands or custody of
  • "hand me the spoon, please"
• guide or conduct or usher somewhere
  • "hand the elderly lady into the taxi"

Synonyms

bridge player, deal, give, handwriting, helping hand, hired hand, hired man, manus, mitt, pass, pass on, paw, reach, script, turn over