hands Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun (with `in') guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
   custody.
   
   • my fate is in your hands
   • too much power in the president's hands
   • your guests are now in my custody
   • the mother was awarded custody of the children
2. noun the force of workers available
   manpower; work force; men; workforce.
   
3. noun the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
   mitt; paw; manus; hand.
   
   • he had the hands of a surgeon
   • he extended his mitt
4. noun a hired laborer on a farm or ranch
   hired hand; hired man; hand.
   
   • the hired hand fixed the railing
   • a ranch hand
5. noun something written by hand
   handwriting; script; hand.
   
   • she recognized his handwriting
   • his hand was illegible
6. noun ability
   hand.
   
   • he wanted to try his hand at singing
7. noun a position given by its location to the side of an object
   hand.
   
   • objections were voiced on every hand
8. noun the cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time
   deal; hand.
   
   • I didn't hold a good hand all evening
   • he kept trying to see my hand
9. noun one of two sides of an issue
   hand.
   
   • on the one hand..., but on the other hand...
10. noun a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece
    hand.
    
    • the big hand counts the minutes
11. noun a unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses
    hand.
    
    • the horse stood 20 hands
12. noun a member of the crew of a ship
    hand.
    
    • all hands on deck
13. noun a card player in a game of bridge
    bridge player; hand.
    
    • we need a 4th hand for bridge
14. noun a round of applause to signify approval
    hand.
    
    • give the little lady a great big hand
15. noun terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos)
    hand.
    
    • the kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting"- Springfield (Mass.) Union
16. noun physical assistance
    helping hand; hand.
    
    • give me a hand with the chores
17. verb place into the hands or custody of
    give; turn over; reach; hand; pass; pass on.
    
    • hand me the spoon, please
    • Turn the files over to me, please
    • He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
18. verb guide or conduct or usher somewhere
    hand.
    
    • hand the elderly lady into the taxi

WordNet