# hands

/ˈhændz/ (US) · /hˈændz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hands
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. body parts

noun · CEFR A1

the two parts of your body at the end of your arms that you use for holding things.

For teachers: the plural form of the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified for grasping.

- You should wash your hands with soap before you eat.
- The surgeon scrubbed her hands thoroughly, adhering to a strict protocol designed to eliminate any risk of bacterial contamination before the operation.

### 2. clock parts

noun · CEFR A2

the long, thin parts on a clock or watch that point to the numbers.

For teachers: the pointers on an analogue clock face that indicate the hour, minute, or second.

- Both hands of the clock pointed to twelve at midnight.
- The antique grandfather clock featured ornate gold hands that moved with silent, mechanical precision against the mahogany face.

## Examples

- Wash your hands before you eat dinner.
- The pianist has very large hands, which allows him to reach difficult chords easily.
- The artisan's weathered hands moved with practiced precision, shaping the raw clay into a delicate vessel within minutes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.