v.
- feel or manipulate with the hands.
- manage or cope with (a situation, person, or problem).
▸control or manage commercially.
▸deal with.
▸receive or deal in (stolen goods).
- drive or control a vehicle.
▸(of a vehicle) respond or behave in a specified way when being driven:
the new model does not handle well.
-
(handle oneself)
conduct oneself.
n.
- the part by which a thing is held, carried, or controlled.
▸a means of understanding, controlling, or approaching a person or situation:
it'll give people some kind of handle on these issues.
- informal the name of a person or place.
- the feel of textiles when handled.
- US informal the total amount of money bet over a particular time or at a particular event.
Derivative
- handleability
/-ˈbɪlɪti/
n. - handleable adj.
- -handled adj.
- handleless adj.
- handling n.
Etymology
OE handle (n.), handlian (v.), from hand.