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handle

v. · n.
US //ˈhændəɫ// UK //hˈændəl// han·dle
  1. 1 to touch or hold (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to touch, feel, or hold something with your hands.

    to manipulate, touch, or hold an object using the hands. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Example

    Please wash your hands before you handle the fresh bread.

    Example

    The museum curator wore silk gloves to handle the ancient manuscript, ensuring that skin oils would not damage the fragile parchment.
  2. 2 to deal with a situation (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to manage a situation, a problem, or a person.

    to manage, control, or direct a situation or person; often implies a level of skill or emotional control.

    Example

    She handled the difficult customer with a lot of patience.

    Example

    The PR team handled the crisis with remarkable efficiency, issuing a statement before the news could negatively impact the company's stock price.
    • mismanage
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  1. 3 how a vehicle moves (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the way a car or bike moves and responds when you drive it.

    to respond to control or behave in a certain way when being driven or steered. Intransitive in this sense.

    Example

    The new car handles very well on wet roads.

    Example

    Despite its bulky appearance, the SUV handles with the agility of a much smaller vehicle, even on tight mountain bends.
  2. 4 part you hold (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the part of an object that you hold in your hand to use or move it.

    the part of a tool, container, or door designed to be grasped by the hand.

    Example

    The handle of the suitcase broke because it was too heavy.

    Example

    The carpenter carved a custom ergonomic handle for the chisel to reduce strain during long hours of detailed work.
  3. 5 online name (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Slang Computing

    a name or nickname you use on the internet or social media.

    a person's chosen nickname or identifier, particularly in digital environments or radio communication.

    Example

    I need to choose a cool handle for my new gaming account.

    Example

    She decided to change her social media handle to something more professional before applying for jobs in the tech industry.
  4. 6 large bottle of alcohol (n.)
    C1 Advanced American English Informal

    a very large bottle of alcohol, usually 1.75 litres.

    a 1.75-litre bottle of distilled spirits, so named because bottles of this size often feature a moulded glass handle.

    Example

    We bought a handle of vodka for the big party on Saturday.

    Example

    The store clerk reached for a handle of bourbon on the bottom shelf, noting that it was the most economical choice for a large gathering.
    • half gallon
  5. 7 total money bet (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Sport

    the total amount of money bet on an event or at a casino.

    the gross amount of money wagered within a specific period or on a specific sporting event.

    Example

    The total handle for the horse race was over a million dollars.

    Example

    Economic analysts noted that the betting handle for the championship game exceeded expectations, indicating a surge in consumer discretionary spending.
Etymology 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.

Etymology 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”).

Word family
Idioms5 entries

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