handle

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

Plural

handles

Verb

Verb

×

A word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.

present (v1)

handle

past (v2)

handled

past participle (v3)

handled

present participle

handling

3rd person singular

handles

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

1. 1.The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved.

   • Once his fingers strayed to the handle of his hunting-knife, and I should have interfered had I not been conscious that Wickliffe was on his guard.
   • By pushing the fork downwards so that its teeth pass the handle of the stopper, and then turning the cover of the desiccator 90°, the handle of the stopper falls into the furrows and rests upon them.

2. 2.An instrument for effecting a purpose (either literally or figuratively); a tool, or an opportunity or pretext.

   • The way AIDS has become a handle for the New Right's homophobia.
   • They overturned him to all his interests by the sure but fatal handle of his own good nature.
   • Nothing can be more reprehensible, or wicked, than to make Christian Missions a handle for political expansion.

3. 3.The gross amount of wagering within a given period of time or for a given event at one of more establishments.

   • The daily handle of a Las Vegas casino is typically millions of dollars.
   • For a casino table game,the handle is difficult to determine, as it consists of all the bets made in every game, whether by chip or by cash play.
   • The results for the dog racing model indicate that increases in lottery sales and decreases in horse racing handle and casino revenues in the state in question statistically increase dog racing handle.

4. 4.The tactile qualities of a fabric, e.g., softness, firmness, elasticity, fineness, resilience, and other qualities perceived by touch.

Verb

Verb

×

A word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.

1. 1.To touch; to feel or hold with the hand(s).

   • Happy, ye leaves! when as those lilly hands [..] Shall handle you.
   • Robert Huth handled a Bentley shot, only for the offence to go unnoticed.
   • Encourage the client to handle her breasts to grow accustomed to touching them, thus enabling milk production in the first few days after birth.

2. 2.To manage, use, or wield with the hands.

   • Light on his feet for a big man, he handled the rifle like a pistol.

3. 3.To manage, control, or direct.

   • “You also handle the accounts for Julie Wojakowski, what about her? Any recent deposits in that amount?”
   • University station opened in May 1978 and was designed to handle around 500,000 passengers a year, a significantly lower figure than the 3.5 million passengers who now use it.

4. 4.To treat, to deal with (in a specified way).

Overall

Common· #1223

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Uncommon

General reading & writing

Common

Academic

Rare

Literature

Rare

Word family

• hand