handle

The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved.

Once his fingers strayed to the handle of his hunting-knife, and I should have interfered had I not been conscious that Wickliffe was on his guard.

By pushing the fork downwards so that its teeth pass the handle of the stopper, and then turning the cover of the desiccator 90°, the handle of the stopper falls into the furrows and rests upon them.

An instrument for effecting a purpose (either literally or figuratively); a tool, or an opportunity or pretext.

They overturned him to all his interests by the sure but fatal handle of his own good nature.

Nothing can be more reprehensible, or wicked, than to make Christian Missions a handle for political expansion.

The gross amount of wagering within a given period of time or for a given event at one of more establishments.

The daily handle of a Las Vegas casino is typically millions of dollars.

For a casino table game,the handle is difficult to determine, as it consists of all the bets made in every game, whether by chip or by cash play.

The tactile qualities of a fabric, e.g., softness, firmness, elasticity, fineness, resilience, and other qualities perceived by touch.

A name or nickname, especially as an identifier over the radio or Internet.

We sat together at the restaurant and asked him about his handle (CB name).

This was so unexpected that Jack came close to gabbling out his real name instead of the one he had used at the Golden Spoon, the name he also used if the people who picked him up asked for his handle.

To touch; to feel or hold with the hand(s).

Happy, ye leaves! when as those lilly hands [...] Shall handle you.

Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh.

To accustom to the hand; to take care of with the hands.

The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts for at least six months every year.

To manage, use, or wield with the hands.

That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper

Light on his feet for a big man, he handled the rifle like a pistol.

To manage, control, or direct.

You shall see how I'll handle her

The findings emerged from questionnaires filled in by 2,211 staff in 145 wards of 55 hospitals in England and Wales and 105 observations of care of dementia patients. Two-thirds of staff said they had not had enough training to provide proper care, 50% said they had not been trained how to communicate properly with such patients and 54% had not been told how to handle challenging or aggressive behaviour.

To treat, to deal with (in a specified way).

she handled the news with grace

the Persians handled the French ambassador shamefully