# handshake

/ˈhændˌʃeɪk/ (US) · /hˈændʃeɪk/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. greeting or agreement

noun · CEFR B1

the act of two people holding and shaking each other's hands to say hello, goodbye, or to show they agree.

For teachers: the act of grasping and shaking hands by two individuals as a gesture of greeting, farewell, or the formalisation of an agreement.

- The two leaders ended the meeting with a firm handshake for the cameras.
- After hours of intense negotiation, the deal was finally sealed with a handshake, signifying mutual trust before the legal documents were drafted.

### 2. computing connection

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the way two computers or devices start a connection by sending signals to each other.

For teachers: an automated exchange of signals between two devices or systems to establish a communication protocol and ensure synchronisation.

- The connection failed because the two devices couldn't complete the initial handshake.
- The three-way handshake is a fundamental process in TCP/IP networking that ensures both the client and server are ready to transmit data.

## Examples

- They sealed the deal with a firm handshake.
- The server and the client perform a TLS handshake to establish a secure connection before exchanging data.
- While the traditional handshake remains a staple of international diplomacy, the digital handshake between their respective networks proved far more difficult to coordinate due to legacy software issues.

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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.