1 The end part of a person’s arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb:the palm of her hand
2. Something resembling a hand in form, in particular
3. A pointer on a clock or watch indicating the passing of units of time : the second hand
4 (hands) Used in reference to the power to direct something:
the day-to-day running of the house was in her hands
they are taking the law into their own hands
5 A person’s workmanship, especially in artistic work.
6 A person who engages in manual labour, especially in a factory, on a farm, or on board a ship:a factory hand,the ship was lost with all hands
7The set of cards dealt to a player in a card game:he’s got a good hand
8 A unit of measurement of a horse’s height, equal to 4 inches (10.16 cm).
[Denoting the breadth of a hand, formerly used as a more general lineal measure and taken to equal three inches]
9. [WITH TWO OBJECTS] Pick (something) up and give it to (someone):he handed each man a glassI handed the trowel back to him
10 [WITH OBJECT AND ADVERBIAL OF DIRECTION] Hold the hand of (someone) in order to guide them in a specified direction:he handed them into the carriage
11 [WITH OBJECT] Sailing Take in or furl (a sail):hand in the main!