hand

/hænd/

Reviewed on

Also a verb

Meaning

  1. The part of the body at the end of the arm, with four fingers and a thumb.

    • Wash your hands before you eat.

  2. Help with doing something.

    • Do you need a hand with those boxes?

  3. One of the long, thin parts that point to the numbers on a clock.

    • The minute hand is on the twelve.

  4. A round of clapping to show that people liked or support someone (used in 'give someone a big hand').

    • Let's give our speakers a big hand!

Collocations

  • raise your hand
  • hold hands
  • shake hands
  • left hand
  • need a hand
  • lend a hand
  • hour hand
  • a big hand

Synonyms

Idioms

  • by hand

    done with the hands, not by a machine

    This sweater was made by hand.

  • hand in hand

    holding each other's hands

    The couple walked hand in hand on the beach.

  • on the one hand ... on the other hand

    used to compare two different ideas or facts, like holding one in each hand

    On the one hand, the job pays well. On the other hand, the hours are long.