handling
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of touching, holding, or moving something with your hands.
the physical act of touching, manipulating, or transporting an object with the hands.
Simple“The box was marked 'Fragile' to ensure careful handling during the move.”
In context“Improper handling of the delicate laboratory equipment resulted in a series of hairline fractures that compromised the entire experiment.”
UsageOften used regarding fragile items or food safety.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the way a car or bicycle responds to the person driving or riding it.
the responsive characteristics of a vehicle in terms of steering, stability, and cornering.
Simple“The new sports car has excellent handling on wet roads.”
In context“The driver praised the car's responsive handling, noting how effortlessly it maintained its line through the sharpest hairpins of the mountain pass.”
Synonymsmanoeuvrabilitycontrol - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
the way someone deals with a difficult situation or person.
the management or treatment of a specific situation, person, or problem.
Simple“The manager's handling of the customer's complaint was very professional.”
In context“The government's handling of the economic crisis was met with widespread criticism from both the public and the financial sector.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
the way an artist uses a brush or tool to create a specific look.
the specific manner or style in which an artist applies paint or uses a tool.
Simple“The painter is famous for his rough handling of the oil paint.”
In context“The critic noted that the artist's bold handling of the brush gave the portrait a sense of raw energy that was lacking in his earlier works.”
Synonymsbrushworktechnique
“Following a crisis meeting in Morocco last week, FIFA apologised to its 211 member associations for mistakes in the handling of the proposal and said its leadership had full support for Infantino.”
“US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Hegseth to be removed from his position over his handling of the aircraft carrier.”
From Middle English handlinge, hondlunge, from Old English handlung (“handling”), equivalent to handle + -ing. Cognate with Dutch handeling (“trade, operation, action”), German Handlung (“act, action”), Swedish handling (“act, deed, action”).
From handle.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.