hand
- Top 1000
Sense 1
- noun
- A1
The part at the end of the arm that has fingers and a thumb, used for holding and touching things.
She raised her hand to answer the teacher's question.
Wash your hands well before you start cooking dinner.
He carried the heavy box with both hands.
They shook hands and agreed on the final price.
Common collocations: shake hands · hold hands · raise your hand · wash your hands · by hand · hand in hand
Part of: Parts of the body
Sense 2 · less common
- noun
- B1
One of the thin pointed pieces on a clock or watch that move round to show the time.
The long hand is on twelve, so it is exactly three.
The hands of the old station clock had stopped moving.
He watched the second hand and counted his own pulse.
Common collocations: the hour hand · the minute hand · the second hand · the hands of a clock
Part of: Times of day
Sense 3 · less common
- verb
- A2
To give something to another person by putting it into their hand.
Please hand me the scissors from the top drawer.
She handed the letter to her colleague without saying anything.
He handed back the change and wished us a good evening.
Common collocations: hand something to somebody · hand somebody something · hand back · hand over · hand in
Part of: Talking to people
Forms
- past
- handed
- plural
- hands
- third_person
- hands
- past_participle
- handed