handle

Definitions

1. 1.About his altar, handling holy things. Milton.
2. 2.To manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully. That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper. Shak.
3. 3.To accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands. The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year. Sir W. Temple.
4. 4.To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell; as, a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock.
5. 5.To deal with; to make a business of. They that handle the law knew me not. Jer. ii.
6. 6.6. To treat; to use, well or ill. How wert thou handled being prisoner. Shak.
7. 7.To manage; to control; to practice skill upon. You shall see how I will handle her. Shak.
8. 8.To use or manage in writing or speaking; to treat, as a theme, an argument, or an objection. We will handle what persons are apt to envy others. Bacon. To handle without gloves. See under Glove. [Colloq.]
9. 9.To use the hands. They have hands, but they handle not. Ps. cxv.
10. 10.1. That part of vessels, instruments, etc., which is held in the hand when used or moved, as the haft of a sword, the knob of a door, the bail of a kettle, etc.
11. 11.That of which use is made; the instrument for effecting a purpose; a tool. South. To give a handle, to furnish an occasion or means.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "handle" mean?
• What is another word for "handle"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is handle.

• What is about his altar, handling holy things. Milton called?
• What is to manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully. That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper. Shak called?
• What is to accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands. The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year. Sir W. Temple called?
• What is to receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell; as, a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock called?
• What is to deal with; to make a business of. They that handle the law knew me not. Jer. ii called?
• What is 6. To treat; to use, well or ill. How wert thou handled being prisoner. Shak called?
• What is to manage; to control; to practice skill upon. You shall see how I will handle her. Shak called?
• What is to use the hands. They have hands, but they handle not. Ps. cxv called?
• What is 1. That part of vessels, instruments, etc., which is held in the hand when used or moved, as the haft of a sword, the knob of a door, the bail of a kettle, etc called?
• What is that of which use is made; the instrument for effecting a purpose; a tool. South. To give a handle, to furnish an occasion or means called?