Hand has 20 different meanings across 4 categories:
Noun · Verb · Proper Noun · Phrase
a hired laborer on a farm or ranch
"the hired hand fixed the railing"
"a ranch hand"
something written by hand
"she recognized his handwriting"
"his hand was illegible"
a position given by its location to the side of an object
"objections were voiced on every hand"
terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos)
"the kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting"
The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
"She carefully examined her hand after dropping it on the sharp edge of the table."
In plain English: A hand is the part of your body at the end of your arm that has fingers and a thumb.
"She waved her hand to say hello from across the street."
Usage: Use "hand" to refer specifically to the lower part of the arm ending in five fingers, distinct from the entire limb which is called an arm. Avoid using it as a verb unless you mean to hold something or guide someone physically.
To give, pass or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.
"She handed me the letter without saying a word."
In plain English: To hand something means to pass it directly to another person.
"She handed me her keys before walking out the door."
Usage: Use "hand" when you physically pass an object to someone or metaphorically delegate a task, such as handing in an assignment. This verb emphasizes the act of transferring something directly from your control to another person's.
A surname.
"My neighbor, Mrs. Hand, waved enthusiastically as she walked her dog down the street."
Initialism of have a nice day.
"I'll just say hand since I'm in such a rush to leave."
The word "hand" comes from Old English and traveled into Middle English with essentially the same meaning. While its distant relatives in other Germanic languages also mean "hand," its ancient roots may be connected to words for capturing or pricking in Gothic, Latvian, and Ancient Greek.