📖 H — The English dictionary · page 5

handbag — Everyday, meaning 1: A handbag is a small bag, often with handles or a strap, used mostly by women to carry things like a purse, keys, phone and tissues.↗ Example: Mum put her keys in her handbag.↗ · Grandma always has tissues and mints in her handbag.↗ · The lady held her handbag tightly on the busy train.↗ · I found a lost handbag and gave it to the shop manager.↗ · Her new handbag had a long shoulder strap.↗ · Never look in someone's handbag without asking.↗

handball — Everyday, meaning 1: Handball is a team game in which players throw and pass a ball with their hands and try to throw it into the other team's goal.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In football (soccer), a handball is a foul when a player other than the goalkeeper touches the ball with the hand or arm.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In some places, handball is a playground game of hitting a ball against a wall or into squares with the hand (also called «downball» or «four square»).↗ Example: We played handball in PE today.↗ · The referee blew his whistle for a handball.↗ · In handball you can take only three steps holding the ball.↗ · At lunch we played handball in the four squares.↗ · He was given a yellow card for a deliberate handball.↗ · Our handball team won the school tournament.↗

handbook — Everyday, meaning 1: A handbook is a small book that gives useful facts and instructions about a subject, or rules about a place, such as a school or a club.↗ Example: Read the school handbook to find the uniform rules.↗ · The bird handbook helped us name the robin.↗ · Every new Cub Scout gets a handbook.↗ · The staff handbook explains what to do in a fire drill.↗ · Check the handbook before you set up the tent.↗ · The teacher's handbook lists all the science experiments.↗

handbreadth — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A short measure of length, the width of a hand across the palm.↗ Example: And thou shalt make unto it a border of a handbreadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.↗ (Torah EXO.25.25, JPS 1917)↗ · And the slabs, a handbreadth long, were fastened within round about; and upon the tables was to be the flesh of the offering.↗ (Prophets EZK.40.43, JPS 1917)↗ · And it was a handbreadth thick; and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it received and held three thousand baths.↗ (Writings 2CH.4.5, JPS 1917)↗

handcuff — Everyday, meaning 1: (noun, usually plural) Two metal rings joined by a chain that police lock round a prisoner's wrists.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To put handcuffs on someone.↗ e.g. The police handcuffed the thief.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (verb, informal) To limit someone so they cannot act freely.↗ Example: The police officer handcuffed the robber.↗ · The thief was led away in handcuffs.↗ · The magician escaped from the handcuffs.↗ · The toy police set came with plastic handcuffs.↗ · The new rules handcuffed the team.↗ · A pair of handcuffs has two cuffs.↗

handel — Everyday, meaning 1: (a name) George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) was a German-born composer who lived and worked in London; he wrote Messiah, Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Handel can also be a surname.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: handel is not an English common word; do not confuse with handle.↗ Example: Handel wrote Messiah in just a few weeks.↗ · The choir sang the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel.↗ · Handel's Water Music was played on a boat on the River Thames for King George I.↗ · Handel was born in Germany but became British.↗ · We listened to Handel in our music lesson.↗ · The audience stands up for Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.↗

handful — Everyday, meaning 1: The amount you can hold in one hand: «a handful of sweets».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A small number of people or things: «Only a handful of children came».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal, a handful) A person or animal that is hard to control: «The puppy is a handful».↗ Example: She grabbed a handful of popcorn.↗ · Add a handful of nuts to the salad.↗ · Only a handful of people came to the meeting.↗ · Our new puppy is a real handful!↗ · He threw a handful of seeds to the birds.↗ · A handful of stars shone through the clouds.↗ · Twenty thousand Persian soldiers had fallen before that handful of men.↗ · And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron: 'Take to you handfuls of soot of the furnace, and let Moses throw it heavenward in the sight of Pharaoh.↗ (Torah EXO.9.8, JPS 1917)↗ · And the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial-part thereof, and make it smoke upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.↗ (Torah NUM.5.26, JPS 1917)↗ · Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.↗ (Writings ECC.4.6, JPS 1917)↗ · Speak: Thus saith the LORD — And the carcasses of men fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, which none gathereth.'↗ (Prophets JER.9.21, JPS 1917)↗ · And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said: 'The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.'↗ (Prophets 1KI.20.10, JPS 1917)↗

handicap — Everyday, meaning 1: Something that makes it harder for you to do well, a disadvantage, as in «Being small was a handicap in basketball».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (sport) In golf, horse racing and some games, a handicap is a score or weight that makes the contest fair between stronger and weaker players.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (old-fashioned, now often hurtful) A disability; today people usually say «disability» instead.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (verb) To make it harder for someone to do something.↗ Example: Not having a map was a big handicap.↗ · Grandpa's golf handicap is 12.↗ · The racehorse carried extra weight as a handicap.↗ · Being new to the school was a handicap at first.↗ · The bad weather handicapped the rescue team.↗ · People now say «disabled» rather than «handicapped».↗

handicraft — Everyday, meaning 1: Handicraft is skill in making things with the hands, such as weaving, carving or pottery.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A handicraft is a thing made with such skill.↗ Example: The old man taught her handicraft.↗ · Her pots were fine handicraft.↗ · Each man was proud of his handicraft.↗ · In craft lessons we learn simple handicrafts like knitting.↗

handiwork — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Something made by a person's own hands; a thing someone has made.↗ Example: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork; (Writings PSA.19.2, JPS 1917)↗

handkerchief — Everyday, meaning 1: A small square of cloth (or paper) you carry in your pocket to wipe your nose, eyes or face.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A square of cloth worn around the neck or head, like a scarf.↗ Example: Use a handkerchief when you sneeze.↗ · Grandma has handkerchiefs with her initials sewn in the corner.↗ · The Walrus held his pocket-handkerchief before his streaming eyes.↗ · She waved her handkerchief as the train left.↗ · He wrapped the conkers in a handkerchief.↗ · Can I borrow a tissue?↗ I forgot my handkerchief.↗ · The pirate wore a red handkerchief on his head.↗

handle — Everyday, meaning 1: A handle is the part of a door, cup, pan, bag or tool that you hold.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To handle something is to touch it or hold it in your hands.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To handle a problem or situation is to deal with it or manage it.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A handle can be a name you use online.↗ Example: Turn the door handle to open it.↗ · Hold the mug by the handle; it is hot.↗ · Turn the pan handles away from the edge.↗ · Handle the hamster gently.↗ · Wash your hands after handling raw meat.↗ · She handled the problem calmly.↗ · The handle of my bag broke.↗ · Can you handle two dogs at once?↗ · "Here's a cooking utensil with a tin handle."↗ · And his brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.↗ (Torah GEN.4.21, JPS 1917)↗ · The children of Ephraim were as archers handling the bow, that turned back in the day of battle.↗ (Writings PSA.78.9, JPS 1917)↗ · They have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they with their throat.↗ (Writings PSA.115.7, JPS 1917)↗ · They all handle the sword, and are expert in war; every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of dread in the night.↗ (Writings SNG.3.8, JPS 1917)↗

handlebar — Everyday, meaning 1: Handlebars are the bar with handles at the front of a bicycle, scooter or motorbike that you hold to steer.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A handlebar moustache is a long moustache curled up at the ends like handlebars.↗ Example: Keep both hands on the handlebars when you ride.↗ · I put a bell on my handlebars.↗ · The brakes are on the handlebars of my bike.↗ · She hung her bag from the handlebars, which was not safe.↗ · The scooter's handlebars can be raised as you grow.↗ · The old man had a curly handlebar moustache.↗

handler — Everyday, meaning 1: A handler is a person who trains and looks after an animal, especially a working dog or horse.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A handler is a person whose job is to move or deal with things, such as a baggage handler at an airport or a food handler.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A handler can be a person who guides or manages someone famous or important.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (computers) A handler is a piece of a program that deals with a certain event, such as a click.↗ Example: The dog handler gave the sniffer dog a treat.↗ · Baggage handlers loaded our suitcases onto the plane.↗ · All food handlers must wear hairnets and wash their hands.↗ · The snake handler showed us a python at the zoo.↗ · The pop star's handlers kept the fans away.↗ · In Scratch, the green flag block is a kind of event handler.↗

handmade — Everyday, meaning 1: Made by a person using their hands or simple tools, not by a machine in a factory: a handmade card.↗ Example: I gave Mum a handmade birthday card.↗ · The market sells handmade soap and candles.↗ · Handmade shoes take days to make.↗ · This handmade quilt was Grandma's.↗ · Each handmade bowl looks a little different.↗ · A handmade toy costs $12, a factory one $5, so it costs $7 more.↗

handmaid — Everyday, meaning 1: (old use) A handmaid is a young woman who serves a lady or a princess, a lady's maid.↗ Early Modern English, meaning 1: a female servant, often a young woman who serves a lady or household.↗ Example: The lady walked out with her handmaids.↗ · A kind handmaid brought the queen her tea.↗ · And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a son.↗ (Torah GEN.30.10, JPS 1917)↗ · And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a second son.↗ (Torah GEN.30.12, JPS 1917)↗ · and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid: Dan and Naphtali; (Torah GEN.35.25, JPS 1917)↗ · And when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.'↗ (Prophets 1SA.25.31, JPS 1917)↗ · For an odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.↗ (Writings PRO.30.23, JPS 1917)↗ · And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My spirit.↗ (Prophets JOL.3.2, JPS 1917)↗ · And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a son.↗ (Torah GEN.30.10, JPS 1917) · When the Lady Jamila heard that Prince Almas was near, she went out, with many a fair handmaid, to give him loving reception.↗ (The Brown Fairy Book) · And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a second son.↗ (Torah GEN.30.12, JPS 1917)

handmaiden — Everyday, meaning 1: (old use) A handmaiden is a young woman servant who waits on a princess or lady; the same as a handmaid.↗ Example: The handmaiden obeyed the princess's order.↗ · The princess sent her handmaiden to the traveller.↗ · Then she said: 'Let me find favour in thy sight, my LORD; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken to the heart of thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.'↗ (Writings RUT.2.13, JPS 1917)↗

handover — Everyday, meaning 1: A handover is the act of passing something, such as a job, power or a place, from one person or group to another.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (work) A meeting where a worker tells the next worker what they need to know, such as nurses at the end of a shift.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (sport) Passing the baton in a relay race (more often called the changeover).↗ Example: The nurses had a handover at seven o'clock.↗ · The handover of the keys happened at the new house.↗ · The new head teacher had a long handover with the old one.↗ · Our relay team practised the baton handover.↗ · The handover of power was peaceful.↗ · After the handover, the new owners moved in.↗ · The teacher wrote handover notes for the supply teacher.↗

handrail — Everyday, meaning 1: A handrail is a long bar along stairs, a ramp, a bridge or a bath that you hold on to for support and safety.↗ Example: Hold the handrail when you go down the stairs.↗ · Grandma uses the handrail to climb the steps.↗ · Don't slide down the handrail!↗ · The bridge has a handrail on each side.↗ · Hold on to the handrail on the moving bus.↗ · The ramp has handrails for wheelchair users.↗

handset — Everyday, meaning 1: The part of a telephone that you hold to your ear and mouth.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A mobile phone.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A hand-held remote control or device.↗ Example: Grandma picked up the handset and said hello.↗ · The shop sells the newest mobile handsets.↗ · Put the cordless handset back on its base to charge it.↗ · My dad's old handset still works.↗ · The TV handset is lost under the sofa again.↗ · Speak clearly into the handset.↗

handshake — Everyday, meaning 1: A handshake is when two people take each other's right hand and shake it, to say hello, goodbye, well done, or to agree.↗ Example: 4 friends each shake hands with every other friend.↗ · How many handshakes are there?↗ · Each handshake is between 2 people.↗ · 5 players make 10 handshakes.↗ · The two teams lined up for handshakes after the match.↗ · He greeted the head teacher with a polite handshake.↗ · They sealed the deal with a handshake.↗ · Some people bow or wave instead of a handshake.↗