hand

Universal Words noun, verb noun part of body 1 [C] the part of the body at the end of the arm, including the fingers and thumb: Ian placed a hand on her shoulder. * Put your hand up if you know the answer. * Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. * She was on (her) hands and knees (= crawling on the floor) looking for an earring. * Couples strolled past holding hands. * Give me your hand (= hold my hand) while we cross the road. * The crowd threw up their hands (= lifted them into the air) in dismay. * He killed the snake with his bare hands (= using only his hands). * a hand towel (= a small towel for drying your hands on) * a hand drill (= one that is used by turning a handle rather than powered by electricity) seealsoLEFT-HAND, RIGHT-HAND -handed 2 (in adjectives) using the hand or number of hands mentioned: a one-handed catch * left-handed scissors (= intended to be held in your left hand) help 3 (a hand) [sing.] (informal) help in doing sth: Let me give you a hand with those bags (= help you to carry them). * Do you need a hand with those invoices? * The neighbours are always willing to lend a hand. role in situation 4 [sing.] ~ in sth the part or role that sb/sth plays in a particular situation; sb's influence in a situation: Early reports suggest the hand of rebel forces in the bombings. * Several of his colleagues had a hand in his downfall. * This appointment was an attempt to strengthen her hand in policy discussions. on clock / watch 5 [C] (usually in compounds) a part of a clock or watch that points to the numbers seealsoHOURHAND, MINUTEHAND, SECONDHAND worker 6 [C] a person who does physical work on a farm or in a factory seealsoCHARGEHAND, FARMHAND, HIREDHAND, STAGEHAND sailor 7 [C] a sailor on a ship: All hands on deck! seealsoDECKHAND hand- 8 (in compounds) by a person rather than a machine: hand-painted pottery * hand-knitted seealsoHANDMADE in card games 9 [C] a set of playing cards given to one player in a game: to be dealt a good / bad hand 10 [C] one stage of a game of cards: I'll have to leave after this hand. writing 11 [sing.] (old use) a particular style of writing seealsoFREEHAND measurement for horse 12 [C] a unit for measuring the height of a horse, equal to 4 INCHES or 10.16 CENTIMETRES seealsoDABHAND, OLDHAND, SECOND-HAND, UNDERHAND IDIOMS (close / near) at hand close to you in time or distance: Help was at hand. * The property is ideally located with all local amenities close at hand. at the hands of sb