Meaning of “handle” in the English Dictionary

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"handle" in English

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handlenoun [ C ]

uk ​ /ˈhæn.dəl/ us ​ /ˈhæn.dəl/

handle noun [ C ] (PART)

B2 a part of an object designed for holding, moving, or carrying the object easily:

a door handle
the handle on a suitcase
I can't pick the kettle up - the handle's too hot.
She turned the handle and slowly opened the door.

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handle noun [ C ] (NAME)

› informal a name of a person or place, especially a strange one:

That's some handle to go through life with!

handleverb

uk ​ /ˈhæn.dəl/ us ​ /ˈhæn.dəl/

handle verb (DEAL WITH)

B1 [ T ] to deal with, have responsibility for, or be in charge of:

I thought he handled the situation very well.
Some people are brilliant with computers, but have no idea how to handle (= behave with) other people.
If you can't handle the job I'll get someone else to do it.
Who handles the marketing in your company?

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(Definition of “handle” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"handle" in American English

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handleverb [ T ]

us ​ /ˈhæn·dəl/

handle verb [ T ] (TOUCH)

› to lift something and touch, hold, or move it with your hands:

Please handle the old photographs carefully.

handle verb [ T ] (DEAL WITH)

› to deal with, have responsibility for, or be in charge of something:

Who handles the marketing in your company?
Some managers have no idea how to handle people.

handlenoun [ C ]

us ​ /ˈhæn·dəl/

handle noun [ C ] (TOUCH)

› a part of an object designed for holding, moving, or carrying the object:

the handle of a shovel
I can’t pick the pot up – the handle’s too hot.

(Definition of “handle” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"handle" in Business English

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handleverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ˈhændl/ us ​

› to deal with something difficult:

handle pressure/stress/problems It was a job that taught me how to handle pressure and use it to my advantage.

› to deal with something or someone such as money, goods, or customers:

Your financial adviser can handle all the details of purchasing shares.

› to be responsible for organizing or managing something or someone:

The office in Europe also handles marketing for the region.

› COMMERCE to buy and sell goods:

We only handle cosmetics which have not been tested on animals.

› COMMERCE to move or store goods:

The distribution company handles around 45 per cent of all the milk produced in the UK.
He admitted handling stolen goods.

› to use your hands to move or hold something:

Staff are trained and equipped to handle hazardous materials.

handlenoun

uk ​ /ˈhændl/ us ​
get/have a handle on sth informal

› to understand something or be able to deal with something:

By coming in early and staying late she started to get a handle on the problem.

(Definition of “handle” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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