From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_145_dhandhand1 /hænd/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 part of body [countable]HBH the part of your body at the end of your arm, including your fingers and thumb, that you use to hold things Steve gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. In her hand was a tattered old photograph.2 → a hand3 control [singular, uncountable] control, power, or influence that someone has The president has strengthened the hand of the gun lobby. This matter is too important to be left in the hands of (=in the control of) an inexperienced lawyer. a manager with a firm hand (=who controls things strictly)4 → get out of hand5 → on the other hand6 → hands off7 → in hand8 → in the hands of somebody/in somebody’s hands9 → hands up10 → at hand11 → to hand12 → on hand13 → by hand14 → (at) first hand15 → (at) second/third/fourth hand16 → at the hands of somebody17 → get your hands on something18 → lay your hands on something19 → come to hand20 → get your hands on somebody21 → have a hand in something22 → hand in hand23 → have something/somebody on your hands24 → be off your hands25 → try your hand at (doing) something26 → turn your hand to (doing) something27 → out of hand28 → hands down29 → have your hands full30 → good with your hands31 → on either/every hand32 → get your hands dirty33 → keep your hand in34 → hand in glove35 → hand over fist36 → a big hand37 → all hands on deck38 → the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing39 worker [countable]WORKER someone who does physical work on a farm, factory, ship etc farm hands40 cards [countable] a) DGCthe playing cards given to one person in a game a winning hand b) DGCa single game of cards41 
clock [countable]TMC a long thin piece of metal that points at the numbers on a clockhour/minute/second hand 42 writing [singular] old-fashionedMP someone’s handwriting43 → somebody’s hands are tied44 → tie/bind somebody hand and foot45 → can do something with one hand (tied) behind your back46 → not do a hand’s turn47 → somebody’s hand (in marriage)48 horse [countable]DSH a unit for measuring the height of a horse, equal to about ten centimetres → cash-in-hand, freehand, hands-on, left-hand, right-hand, → be an old hand (at something) at old(17), → bite the hand that feeds you at bite1(15), → have blood on your hands at blood1(2), → have your hands/fingers in the till at till2(3), → force somebody’s hand at force2(7), → overplay your hand at overplay(2), → shake somebody’s hand/shake hands with somebody at shake1(4), → wash your hands of something at wash1(5)COLLOCATIONSadjectivessomebody’s right/left handShe held the book in her right hand.somebody’s free hand (=the hand someone is not already using)Amy was stroking the dog with her free hand.a gloved hand (=covered with a glove)He stretched out a gloved hand.an outstretched hand (=stretched out towards someone or something)She took her father’s outstretched hand and began to walk from the room.somebody’s cupped hand (=in the shape of a cup)Hamil shook the dice in his cupped hand.verbswave your handMarta waved a hand to attract his attention.clap your handsThey were singing and clapping their hands.wash your handsGo wash your hands before dinner.hold hands (with somebody)Joanne and Kevin held hands on the sofa.shake somebody’s hand (also shake hands with somebody)‘Nice to meet you, ’ he said, as they shook hands.take somebody’s hand (=hold someone’s hand)He reached across the table and took her hand in his.take somebody by the hand (=hold someone’s hand in order to take them somewhere)She took the boy by the hand and led him across the street.join hands (=take hold of the hands of people on either side of you)They stood in a circle and joined hands.clasp your hands (=hold them together tightly)Emily clasped her hands together and stood there nervously.fold your hands (=put your hands together and rest them on something)Lily folded both hands on her stomach.raise your hand (also put your hand up) (=lift your hand, especially when you want to ask or answer a question)If you know the answer, raise your hand.somebody’s hands shake/trembleHis hands trembled as he lifted the cup.somebody’s hand holds somethingHis other hand was holding his mobile phone.somebody’s hand touches somethingDaniel’s hand touched mine.somebody’s hand grips something (=hold something firmly)Her hands gripped the steering wheel very tightly.somebody’s hand grabs/grasps something (=take and hold something firmly)He felt Connor’s hand grasp his shoulder.somebody’s hand tightensHer hand tightened on the knife handle.nounsa hand movementThe disease means she has trouble controlling her hand movements. a hand gesture/signal (=a movement of your hand to show what you mean)He made a rude hand gesture at the other driver.phrasesin somebody’s handHe had a suitcase in his hand.on your hands and knees (=in a crawling position)They got down on their hands and knees to search.the palm of your hand (=the inside surface of your hand)The phone could fit into the palm of his hand.the back of your hand (=the outside surface of your hand)Let a dog sniff the back of your hand, rather than your fingers.with your bare hands (=without using a tool, weapon, machine etc)With his bare hands he forced the doors apart.
clock [countable]TMC a long thin piece of metal that points at the numbers on a clockhour/minute/second hand 42 writing [singular] old-fashionedMP someone’s handwriting43 → somebody’s hands are tied44 → tie/bind somebody hand and foot45 → can do something with one hand (tied) behind your back46 → not do a hand’s turn47 → somebody’s hand (in marriage)48 horse [countable]DSH a unit for measuring the height of a horse, equal to about ten centimetres → cash-in-hand, freehand, hands-on, left-hand, right-hand, → be an old hand (at something) at old(17), → bite the hand that feeds you at bite1(15), → have blood on your hands at blood1(2), → have your hands/fingers in the till at till2(3), → force somebody’s hand at force2(7), → overplay your hand at overplay(2), → shake somebody’s hand/shake hands with somebody at shake1(4), → wash your hands of something at wash1(5)COLLOCATIONSadjectivessomebody’s right/left handShe held the book in her right hand.somebody’s free hand (=the hand someone is not already using)Amy was stroking the dog with her free hand.a gloved hand (=covered with a glove)He stretched out a gloved hand.an outstretched hand (=stretched out towards someone or something)She took her father’s outstretched hand and began to walk from the room.somebody’s cupped hand (=in the shape of a cup)Hamil shook the dice in his cupped hand.verbswave your handMarta waved a hand to attract his attention.clap your handsThey were singing and clapping their hands.wash your handsGo wash your hands before dinner.hold hands (with somebody)Joanne and Kevin held hands on the sofa.shake somebody’s hand (also shake hands with somebody)‘Nice to meet you, ’ he said, as they shook hands.take somebody’s hand (=hold someone’s hand)He reached across the table and took her hand in his.take somebody by the hand (=hold someone’s hand in order to take them somewhere)She took the boy by the hand and led him across the street.join hands (=take hold of the hands of people on either side of you)They stood in a circle and joined hands.clasp your hands (=hold them together tightly)Emily clasped her hands together and stood there nervously.fold your hands (=put your hands together and rest them on something)Lily folded both hands on her stomach.raise your hand (also put your hand up) (=lift your hand, especially when you want to ask or answer a question)If you know the answer, raise your hand.somebody’s hands shake/trembleHis hands trembled as he lifted the cup.somebody’s hand holds somethingHis other hand was holding his mobile phone.somebody’s hand touches somethingDaniel’s hand touched mine.somebody’s hand grips something (=hold something firmly)Her hands gripped the steering wheel very tightly.somebody’s hand grabs/grasps something (=take and hold something firmly)He felt Connor’s hand grasp his shoulder.somebody’s hand tightensHer hand tightened on the knife handle.nounsa hand movementThe disease means she has trouble controlling her hand movements. a hand gesture/signal (=a movement of your hand to show what you mean)He made a rude hand gesture at the other driver.phrasesin somebody’s handHe had a suitcase in his hand.on your hands and knees (=in a crawling position)They got down on their hands and knees to search.the palm of your hand (=the inside surface of your hand)The phone could fit into the palm of his hand.the back of your hand (=the outside surface of your hand)Let a dog sniff the back of your hand, rather than your fingers.with your bare hands (=without using a tool, weapon, machine etc)With his bare hands he forced the doors apart. Examples from the Corpus
hand• Some one, I thought with illumination, who knew how easily Olympia had died from hands round the neck.• She covers her face with her hand.• a hired hand• My father looked at the wall, looked at his hands.• It was a lazy, almost careless gesture; only Caroline knew that the pressure of his hand was remorseless and proprietorial.• the hour hand• The letter was written in a neat hand.• We played a couple of hands of poker.• Even the town crier of nearby Faringdon was on hand to give an official reception.• The core, on the other hand, consists of divine goodness.• The distinction between agreements under hand and covenants under seal has been largely obliterated.• Go wash your hands.a firm hand• In other respects careful management and a firm hand pushed up the royal income.• In fact, a firm hand might have steered the team on the rocks.• When Barkley Ball was at its peak, there was little need for a firm hand.• Active kids need a firm hand.• Lizzy would need a firm hand after this.• You see, children want a firm hand.• Many of them placed their cross opposite her name unhesitatingly, and with a firm hand, for an entire decade.• Since then, he has run meetings with a firm hand.• Although he runs the operation with a firm hand, the Steelers are more like a family than any other team.hour/minute/second hand• All second hand furniture should be fitted with a safety label like this.• Each minute hand is 12 feet 7 inches long; each hour hand is almost 10 feet long.• Eloise opened the glass case and adjusted the minute hand until both golden hands were on the twelve numeral.• As the second hand slid into place the car was there, the insect-faced lieutenant still on his own.• Imagine a straight line half way between the hour hand and the figure 12 on the watch.• Even the second hand lies motionless.• He slipped it from his wrist and wound the minute hand forward.• The second hand had its own dial at the bottom of the face. handhand2 ●●○ W2 verb [transitive] 1 GIVEto give something to someone else with your handhand somebody something He handed the teacher a slip of paper.hand something to somebody He lit a cigarette and handed it to her. This form must be handed to all employees.2 → you have to hand it to somebody → hand something ↔ around → hand something ↔ back → hand something ↔ down → hand something ↔ in → hand something ↔ on → hand something ↔ out → hand over→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
hand• As the delegates entered the room they were each handed a name-badge.• The boy handed him a limp paper bag that smelled of tuna fish.• I said, and handed it back.• The nurse handed me a glass of brown liquid and told me to drink it.• It's not just the gross amounts of money that have been handed out to undeserving executives.• Therefore, are we not wise in being extremely cautious before we hand over our money supply to a third party?• Here, you simply hand over your money to a stockbroker.• Alternatively, you can pay £2266 and get the whole kit without handing over your old parts.• Would you please hand your ticket to the man at the door.hand something to somebody• I handed the package to the security guard.From Longman Business Dictionaryhandhand1 /hænd/ noun [countable]1JOBFARMINGsomeone who does physical work on a farm, in a factory etcCooper held several odd jobs before coming to California to work as afactory hand.Jones hired himself out as a deck hand and cook on a Mexican fishing boat.2by hand using your hands, not a machineWorkers at the factory sand and finish the furnitureby hand.3by hand delivered directly by one person to another, not sent through the postHis letter of confirmation will leave today by hand.4change hands if something changes hands, it is sold or goes from its old owner to a new oneMore than 1.2 million IBM shares changed hands on Friday.5on hand American English, to hand British English close by and ready when neededThe company had to keep enough cash on hand to pay the bills. 6time/money etc in hand extra time or money that is available to be usedThe report is not finished yet, but we still have some time in hand.7at hand likely to happen soonNot all indicators of European economic performance suggest that a crisis is at hand.8in hand being dealt withDon’t worry - all the contract arrangements are in hand.9show of hands a situation where people vote by raising their handsA show of hands revealed that nearly half of the people agreed with the chairman’s resolution.10shake hands to hold someone’s hand in order to greet them or to show that you have reached an agreementSmiling broadly, the two leaders shook hands. → see also handshakehandhand2 verb → hand over→ See Verb tableOrigin hand1 Old English 