The appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it:
— He grabbed the hammer by the handle.

synonyms: grip, handgrip, hold.

Roget 633: machinery, mechanism, engineering.    instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill; air engine, caloric engine, heat engine.    gear; tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances; plant, materiel; harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments; barde^†; equipment, equipmentage^†; appointments, furniture, upholstery; chattels; paraphernalia etc. (belongings) 780.    mechanical powers; lever, leverage; mechanical advantage; crow, crowbar; handspike^†, gavelock^†, jemmy^†, jimmy, arm, limb, wing; oar, paddle; pulley; wheel and axle; wheelwork, clockwork; wheels within wheels; pinion, crank, winch; cam; pedal; capstan etc. (lift) 307; wheel etc. (rotation) 312; inclined plane; wedge; screw; spring, mainspring; can hook, glut, heald^†, heddle^†, jenny, parbuckle^†, sprag^†, water wheel.    handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key; turnscrew, screwdriver; knocker.    hammer etc. (impulse) 276; edge tool etc. (cut) 253; borer etc. 262; vice, teeth, etc. (hold) 781; nail, rope etc. (join) 45; peg etc. (hang) 214; support etc. 215; spoon etc. (vehicle) 272; arms etc. 727; oar etc. (navigation) 267; cardiograph, recapper^†, snowplow, tenpenny^†, votograph^†.    ... show more

Roget 617: pretext, pretense, pretension, plea^†; allegation, advocation; ostensible motive, ostensible ground, ostensible reason, phony reason; excuse etc. (vindication) 937; subterfuge; color; gloss, guise, cover.    loop hole, starting hole; how to creep out of, salvo, come off; way of escape.    handle, peg to hang on, room locus standi [Lat.]; stalking-horse, cheval de bataille [Fr.], cue.    pretense etc. (untruth) 546; put off, dust thrown in the eyes; blind; moonshine; mere pretext, shallow pretext; lame excuse, lame apology; tub to a whale; false plea, sour grapes; makeshift, shift, white lie; special pleading etc. (sophistry) 477; soft sawder etc. (flattery) 933^†.    ... show more

Dutch: handel, kruk, oor
Polish: rączka

Be in charge of, act on, or dispose of:
— This blender can't handle nuts.

synonyms: care, deal, manage.

Dutch: managen, leiden, beheren, aankunnen, zorgen

Interact in a certain way:
— Handle the press reporters gently.

synonyms: do by, treat.

Dutch: behandelen, bejegenen, omgaan, omspringen

Act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression.

synonyms: address, cover, deal, plow, treat.

Touch, lift, or hold with the hands:
— Don't handle the merchandise.

synonym: palm.

Dutch: behandelen, zich bezighouden met, bedienen, omgaan

Handle effectively.

synonyms: manage, wield.

Roget 379: touch, feel, handle, finger, thumb, paw, fumble, grope, grabble; twiddle, tweedle; pass the fingers over, run the fingers over; manipulate, wield; throw out a feeler.    ... show more

Roget 677: use, make use of, employ, put to use; put in action, put in operation, put in practice; set in motion, set to work.    ply, work, wield, handle, manipulate; play, play off; exert, exercise, practice, avail oneself of, profit by, resort to, have recourse to, recur to, take betake oneself to; take up with, take advantage of; lay one's hands on, try.    render useful etc. 644; mold; turn to account, turn to use; convert to use, utilize; work up; call into play, bring into play; put into requisition; call forth, draw forth; press into service, enlist into the service; bring to bear upon, devote, dedicate, consecrate, apply, adhibit^†, dispose of; make a handle of, make a cat's-paw of.    fall back upon, make a shift with; make the most of, make the best of.    use up, swallow up; consume, absorb, expend; tax, task, wear, put to task.    ... show more

Show and train.