<HEAD><TITLE>DICTIONARY: hand - handiwork</TITLE></HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff">
<A HREF="a.dic">A</A>
<A HREF="b.dic">B</A>
<A HREF="c.dic">C</A>
<A HREF="d.dic">D</A>
<A HREF="e.dic">E</A>
<A HREF="f.dic">F</A>
<A HREF="g.dic">G</A>
<A HREF="h.dic">H</A>
<A HREF="i.dic">I</A>
<A HREF="j.dic">J</A>
<A HREF="k.dic">K</A>
<A HREF="l.dic">L</A>
<A HREF="m.dic">M</A>
<A HREF="n.dic">N</A>
<A HREF="o.dic">O</A>
<A HREF="p.dic">P</A>
<A HREF="q.dic">Q</A>
<A HREF="r.dic">R</A>
<A HREF="s.dic">S</A>
<A HREF="t.dic">T</A>
<A HREF="u.dic">U</A>
<A HREF="v.dic">V</A>
<A HREF="w.dic">W</A>
<A HREF="x.dic">X</A>
<A HREF="y.dic">Y</A>
<A HREF="z.dic">Z</A>
<P>
<A NAME="handax">
<B>hand ax</B> or <B>axe,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a prehistoric tool shaped for holding in the hand and used especially for cutting and scraping. </DL>
<A NAME="handbag">
<B>handbag, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a woman's small bag for money, keys, and cosmetics; purse. <DD><B> 2. </B>a small traveling bag; valise. </DL>
<A NAME="handball">
<B>handball, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a game played by hitting a small, hard ball with the hand against a single wall or the four walls of a court. It is played by two opponents or sides. <DD><B> 2. </B>the ball. </DL>
<A NAME="handbarrow">
<B>handbarrow, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a frame with two handles at each end by which it is carried. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=handcart.</B> <DD><B> 3. </B><B>=wheelbarrow.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="handbell">
<B>handbell, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a bell attached to a handle and held in the hand when rung. </DL>
<A NAME="handbill">
<B>handbill, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a notice or advertisement, usually printed on a single page, that is to be handed out to people. (SYN) handout, dodger. </DL>
<A NAME="handblown">
<B>hand-blown, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> shaped and expanded by means of a blowpipe manipulated by hand. <BR> <I>Ex. hand-blown glass.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handbook">
<B>handbook, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a small book of directions or reference, especially in some field of study; manual. <BR> <I>Ex. a handbook on birds.</I> <DL COMPACT><DD> (Abbr:) hdbk. <DD><B> 2. </B>a guidebook for tourists. <DD><B> 3. </B>a small book for recording bets. <DD><B> 4. </B>a place where bets are taken. </DL>
</DL>
<A NAME="handbrake">
<B>hand brake,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a brake operated by a lever worked by hand. On an automobile it is also called the emergency brake. </DL>
<A NAME="handbreadth">
<B>handbreadth, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the breadth of a hand, used as a measure. It varies from 2 1/2 to 4 inches. Also, <B>hand's-breadth.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="handcar">
<B>handcar, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a light, open car moved along railroad tracks by pumping a handle, used by workmen who maintain the tracks. </DL>
<A NAME="handcart">
<B>handcart, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a small cart pulled or pushed by hand; barrow. </DL>
<A NAME="handclap">
<B>handclap, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the striking together of a person's hands, especially as applause, a signal or interruption, or a marking of rhythm. </DL>
<A NAME="handclasp">
<B>handclasp, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the grasp of a person's hand as in agreement or greeting. </DL>
<A NAME="handcraft">
<B>handcraft, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>=handicraft.</B> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to make or work by hand. <BR> <I>Ex. Master cabinet makers are faithfully handcrafting Early American furniture in the old traditional manner (Saturday Review).</I> noun <B>handcrafter.</B> </DL>
<B>handcuff, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> Usually, <B>handcuffs.</B> <B>1. </B>a device to keep a person from using his hands, usually one of two steel bracelets joined by a short chain and fastened around the wrists. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a restraint. <BR> <I>Ex. One section of the bill ... is designed to undo what proponents call the handcuffs placed on the police by Supreme Court decisions (New York Times).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to put handcuffs on. <BR> <I>Ex. to handcuff a prisoner.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to restrain. <BR> <I>Ex. The German generals ... were strategically handcuffed and limited to minor tactical decisions (New Yorker).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handdrill">
<B>hand drill,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a drill held and worked by hand. Its gear is cranked with one hand while the other holds and puts pressure on the tool. </DL>
<A NAME="handed">
<B>-handed,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) <DD><B> 1. </B>using the ______hand. <BR> <I>Ex. Right-handed = using the right hand.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>having or involving ______ hands. <BR> <I>Ex. Empty-handed = having empty hands. Two-handed (stroke) = (a stroke) involving two hands.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>having or involving ______ persons or players. <BR> <I>Ex. Short-handed = having fewer persons than necessary. Four-handed (cribbage) = (a game of cribbage) involving four players.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handedness">
<B>handedness, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(Psychology.) the preferential use of one hand instead of the other. <BR> <I>Ex. Students of handedness concentrate chiefly on left-handedness as their object of study.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Physics.) a twisting or turning in one direction, as with a meson particle. </DL>
<A NAME="handfast">
<B>handfast, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Archaic.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a contract, especially of a betrothal or marriage. <DD><B> 2. </B>the joining of hands as in making a bargain. <DD><B> 3. </B>a firm hold or grip; custody. <BR> <I>Ex. If that shepherd be not in handfast, let him fly (Shakespeare).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handfasting">
<B>handfasting, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Archaic.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a betrothal. <DD><B> 2. </B>a kind of trial marriage, not recognized by the church. </DL>
<A NAME="handfeed">
<B>hand-feed, </B>transitive verb, <B>-fed,</B> <B>-feeding.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to feed by hand. <BR> <I>Ex. to hand-feed a pet.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Agriculture.) to feed (animals) by providing them with a standard portion of food at regular intervals. </DL>
<A NAME="handful">
<B>handful, </B>noun, pl. <B>-fuls.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>as much or many as the hand can hold. <BR> <I>Ex. a handful of candy.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a small number or quantity. <BR> <I>Ex. A handful of men could defend this mountain pass against hundreds.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) <DD><B> a. </B>as much as one can manage. <DD><B> b. </B>(Informal.) a person or thing that is hard to manage. <BR> <I>Ex. The mischievous boy is quite a handful.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handglass">
<B>hand glass,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a small mirror with a handle. <DD><B> 2. </B>a magnifying glass held in the hand in reading. <DD><B> 3. </B>a framework of glass for protecting plants. </DL>
<A NAME="handgrenade">
<B>hand grenade,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a small bomb to be thrown by hand, usually set with a time fuze. <DD><B> 2. </B>any similar thing thrown by hand, such as a bottle or other container with chemicals. </DL>
<A NAME="handgrip">
<B>handgrip, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the act of grasping with the hand; grip of the hand, as in greeting. <DD><B> 2. </B>a handle by which a thing is gripped. <BR><I>expr. <B>come to handgrips,</B> </I>to come to close combat. <BR> <I>Ex. In the chase he almost came to handgrips with his attacker.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handgun">
<B>handgun, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a gun that can be held and fired with one hand; pistol. </DL>
<A NAME="handheld">
<B>handheld, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> able to be held in hand; portable. <BR> <I>Ex. a handheld television camera.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handhold">
<B>handhold, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a place to put the hands for holding on or in climbing. <BR> <I>Ex. (Figurative.) They saw they had lost their handhold on the civilian ladder of status (Harper's).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handhorn">
<B>hand horn,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a musical instrument intermediate in development between the hunting horn and the French horn. </DL>
<A NAME="handicap">
<B>handicap, </B>noun, verb, <B>-capped,</B> <B>-capping.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>something that puts a person at a disadvantage; hindrance. <BR> <I>Ex. A sore throat is a handicap to a singer.</I> (SYN) impediment. <DD><B> 2. </B>a race, contest, or game in which the poorer contestants are given special advantages and the better ones are given special disadvantages, so that all have an equal chance to win. <DD><B> 3. </B>the disadvantage or advantage given in such a race, contest, or game. <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to put at a disadvantage; hinder. <BR> <I>Ex. A lame arm handicapped the baseball player.</I> (SYN) encumber. <DD><B> 2. </B>to give a handicap to. </DL>
<A NAME="handicapped">
<B>handicapped, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> crippled; disabled; having a physical or mental handicap. <BR> <I>Ex. The physical, mental, social, and emotional needs of the handicapped person are no different from those of other people (Joseph P. Anderson).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handicapper">
<B>handicapper, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person who handicaps. <DD><B> 2. </B>a person who determines the amount of handicap in a race or other contest. </DL>
<A NAME="handicraft">
<B>handicraft, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>skill with the hands. <DD><B> 2. </B>a trade or art requiring skill with the hands. <BR> <I>Ex. Weaving baskets from rushes is a handicraft.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a thing made with the hands. <DD><B> 4. </B>(Obsolete.) a handicraftsman. Also, <B>handcraft.</B> </DL>
<B>handicraftsman, </B>noun, pl. <B>-men.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a person skilled with his hands in a trade or art; craftsman. (SYN) artisan. noun <B>handicraftsmanship.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="handietalkie">
<B>handie-talkie, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a very light portable radio for transmitting and receiving at short distances, as used by soldiers or firemen. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>Handie-Talkie.</B> (Trademark.) such a radio. </DL>
<A NAME="handily">
<B>handily, </B>adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>in a skillful manner; expertly. <BR> <I>Ex. She plays the guitar handily.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>easily. <BR> <I>Ex. He finished the gallop handily, as the clockers put it (New Yorker).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>conveniently. <BR> <I>Ex. The telephone, clock, and radio were handily located by the patient's bedside.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="handin">
<B>hand-in, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (in badminton, squash, and other net games) the person or side serving. </DL>
<A NAME="handiness">
<B>handiness, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> skill with the hands; the quality of being handy. </DL>
<A NAME="handiwork">
<B>handiwork, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>work done by a person's hands. (SYN) handwork. <DD><B> 2. </B>work that a person has done by himself, or work that another agent has done by itself. <BR> <I>Ex. A tree is the handiwork of nature.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>the result of a person's action. <BR> <I>Ex. This trouble is his handiwork.</I> </DL>
