handle Meaning & Definition
What Does Handle Mean?
Handle is a noun that means The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved. It can also mean An instrument for effecting a purpose (either literally or figuratively); a tool, or an opportunity or pretext. As a verb, it means To touch; to feel or hold with the hand(s).
Handle in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈhæn.d(ə)l// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | address, work and hold |
| Plural | handles |
| Verb forms | handles, handling, handled |
Handle Definition (Noun)
- 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.
- 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.
- The tactile qualities of a fabric, e.g., softness, firmness, elasticity, fineness, resilience, and other qualities perceived by touch.
- A name or nickname, especially as an identifier over the radio or Internet.
- A title attached to one's name, such as Doctor or Colonel.
The successful businessman was knighted and acquired a handle to his name.
- 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.
- A traditional dimpled glass with a handle, for serving a pint of beer.
- A 10 fluid ounce (285 mL) glass of beer.
- A half-gallon (1.75-liter) bottle of alcohol.
- A point, an extremity of land.
the Handle of the Sug in Newfoundland
- A topological space homeomorphic to a ball but viewed as a product of two lower-dimensional balls.
- The smooth, irreducible subcurve of a comb which connects to each of the other components in exactly one point.
- A person's nose.
- The amount wagered in the various pari-mutuel pools for a particular event or events.
Handle as a Verb
- To touch; to feel or hold with the hand(s).
- To accustom to the hand; to take care of with the hands.
- To manage, use, or wield with the hands.
- To manage, control, or direct.
- To treat, to deal with (in a specified way).
she handled the news with grace
- To deal with (a subject, argument, topic, or theme) in speaking, in writing, or in art.
- 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
- To be concerned with; to be an expert in.
- To put up with; to endure (and continue to function).
I can't handle this hot weather.
- To use the hands.
- To illegally touch the ball with the hand or arm; to commit handball.
- To behave in a particular way when handled (managed, controlled, directed).
the car handles well
Noun
- A name, nickname or pseudonym.
- A 10 fl oz (285 ml) glass of beer in the Northern Territory. (See also pot and middy for other regional variations.)
- A half-gallon (1.75-liter) bottle of alcohol. (Called a sixty in Canada.)
Synonyms of Handle
Antonyms of Handle
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Handle in a Sentence
The daily handle of a Las Vegas casino is typically millions of dollars.
The successful businessman was knighted and acquired a handle to his name.
This article describes how to find the module name from the window handle.
the Handle of the Sug in Newfoundland
she handled the news with grace
the Persians handled the French ambassador shamefully
a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock
I can't handle this hot weather.
the car handles well
she handled the news with grace, the Persians handled the French ambassador shamefully
Word Forms & Grammar
handle (plural handles)
handle (third-person singular simple present handles, present participle handling, simple past and past participle handled)
Words That Rhyme With Handle
Origin of Handle
Origin 1: From Middle English handel, handle, from Old English handle (“handle”), from Proto-West Germanic *handulā (“handle”). See verb below. Cognate with German Hantel (“dumbbell, barbell”), Danish handel (“handle”). Related to hand.
Origin 2: From Middle English handlen, from Old English handlian (“to handle, feel, deal with, discuss”), from Proto-West Germanic *handulōn, from Proto-Germanic *handulōną (“to take, grip, feel”), equivalent to hand + -le. Cognate with West Frisian handelje, hanneljen, hanljen (“to handle, treat”), Dutch handelen (“to handle, deal, act, negotiate”), German handeln (“to act, trade, negotiate, behave”), Swedish handla (“to buy, trade, deal”), Icelandic höndla (“to handle”).
How to Pronounce Handle
You say handle as //ˈhæn.d(ə)l//. It has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Handle
Is handle a noun or a verb?
Handle is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for handle?
Words with a similar meaning to handle include address, work and hold. See the full list of handle synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of handle?
The plural of handle is handles.
What is the past tense of handle?
The past tense of handle is handled. The present participle is handling.