Hand - Definition

n 1: the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb; "he had
the hands of a surgeon"; "he extended his mitt" [syn:
hand, manus, mitt, paw]
2: a hired laborer on a farm or ranch; "the hired hand fixed the
railing"; "a ranch hand" [syn: hired hand, hand, hired
man]
3: something written by hand; "she recognized his handwriting";
"his hand was illegible" [syn: handwriting, hand,
script]
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" [syn: hand, deal]
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" [syn: bridge player, hand]
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" [syn:
hand, helping hand]
v 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" [syn: pass, hand,
reach, pass on, turn over, give]
2: guide or conduct or usher somewhere; "hand the elderly lady
into the taxi"