Dictionary

handle

Pronunciation

(America) IPA: /ˈhæn.dl/

Noun

handle (plural handles)

The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved.
An instrument for effecting a purpose (either literally or figuratively); a tool, or an opportunity or pretext.
- They overturned him to all his interests by the sure but fatal handle of his own good nature.
(gambling) 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.
(textiles) The tactile qualities of a fabric, e.g., softness, firmness, elasticity, fineness, resilience, and other qualities perceived by touch.
(slang) A name, nickname or pseudonym.
(slang) A title attached to one's name, such as Doctor or Colonel.
The successful businessman was knighted and acquired a handle to his name.
(computing) A reference to an object or structure that can be stored in a variable.
This article describes how to find the module name from the window handle.
(Australia, New Zealand) A 10 fl oz (285 ml) glass of beer in the Northern Territory. (See also pot and middy for other regional variations.)
(US) A half-gallon (1.75-liter) bottle of alcohol. (Called a sixty in Canada.)
- 2014, Ray Stoeser, ‎Josh Cuffe, Bury My Body Down By the Highway Side, page 83:
  Josh bought a fifth of Evan Williams for Andrew as a token of gratitude and Ray, because of the financial constraints, purchased the cheapest handle of whiskey he could find: Heaven Hill.
(geography, Newfoundland and Labrador, rare) A point, an extremity of land.
the Handle of the Sug in Newfoundland
(topology) A topological space homeomorphic to a ball but viewed as a product of two lower-dimensional balls.
(algebraic geometry) The smooth, irreducible subcurve of a comb which connects to each of the other components in exactly one point.

Related terms

give a handle

Translations

French: poignée, manche, (of a basket, of a jug) anse, (of a cart) barre de manœuvre, tirette, levier, manette, (of a razor or lancet) châsse, (of a plough) mancheron
German: Griff
Italian: impugnatura, manico
Portuguese: cabo (a shaft-like handle), alça (a handle that connects of the object in two places, such as the handle of a bucket or handbag)
Russian: ру́чка
Spanish: (of container) asa, (of knife, broom, rake, etc) mango, (of drawer) manija, tirador, manilla

Translations

French: poignée
German: Klinke
Italian: maniglia
Portuguese: maçaneta
Russian: ру́чка
Spanish: picaporte

Translations

French: outil, instrument
Spanish: instrumento

Translations

French: paris

Translations

French: indicatif, pseudonyme

Translations

French: indicateur
Russian: идентифика́тор

Translations

French: anse

Verb

handle (handles, present participle handling; past and past participle handled)

(transitive) To touch; to feel or hold with the hand(s).
- , Spenser, Sonnets:
  Happy, ye leaves! when as those lilly hands [...] Shall handle you.
- Luke 24:39:
  Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh.
- 1671, John Milton, “Book the First”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: Printed by J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], OCLC 228732398 ↗:
  [...] about his altar, handling holy things
(transitive, rare) To accustom to the hand; to take care of with the hands.
- The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year.
(transitive) To manage, use, or wield with the hands.
- c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 4, scene 6]:
  That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper
- 1976, Mel Hallin Bolster, Crazy Snake and the Smoked Meat Rebellion, page 66
  Light on his feet for a big man, he handled the rifle like a pistol.
(transitive) To manage, control, or direct.
- c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “Measvre for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 5, scene 1]:
  You shall see how I'll handle her
(transitive) To treat, to deal with (in a specified way).
- 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 1, scene 4]:
  How wert thou handled being prisoner?
she handled the news with grace, the Persians handled the French ambassador shamefully
(transitive) To deal with (a subject, argument, topic, or theme) in speaking, in writing, or in art.
- 1625, Francis Bacon, Of Envy
  We will handle what persons are apt to envy others...
(transitive) To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell.
a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock
(transitive, rare) To be concerned with; to be an expert in.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Jeremiah 2:8 ↗:
  They that handle the law knew me not
(transitive) To put up with; to endure (and continue to function).
I can't handle this hot weather.
- 2014, Andrew Stellman, ‎Jennifer Greene, Learning Agile: Understanding Scrum, XP, Lean, and Kanban ISBN 1449363857:
  For example, a program that loads data from a file needs to handle the case where that file is not found.
(intransitive) To use the hands.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Psalms 115:7 ↗:
  They [idols made of gold and silver] have hands, but they handle not
(soccer, intransitive) To illegally touch the ball with the hand or arm; to commit handball.
(intransitive) To behave in a particular way when handled (managed, controlled, directed).
the car handles well