handle

han|dle1 [ `hændl ] verb ***

1. ) transitive to take action to deal with a difficult situation:

The government was criticized for the way it handled the crisis.

handle something well: Congratulations! You handled that really well.

badly/poorly handled: We felt that the dispute was badly handled.

a ) to be responsible for doing a particular job or piece of work:

Detective Dawkin will be handling this case.

Publicity is being handled by an outside agency.

b ) to be able to deal successfully with a large amount of work or information:

The newer computers can handle massive amounts of data.

The helpline handles 100 calls an hour.

c ) to deal with the people or goods that pass through an airport, port, or other center:

The depot handles over two million tons of freight a week.

d ) to deal successfully with a person who is likely to become angry or upset:

Flight attendants are trained to handle difficult passengers.

2. ) transitive to touch or hold something:

handle something with care: All chemicals must be handled with care.

handle someone roughly: Some prisoners complained that they'd been roughly handled.

3. ) transitive to buy and sell goods, especially illegally:

handle stolen goods: He denied burglary but admitted handling stolen goods.

4. ) transitive to control an animal or a vehicle using your hands:

She handled the pony very confidently.

a ) intransitive if a vehicle handles well or badly, it is easy or difficult to control

someone cannot handle something

someone is unable to deal with something:

I left because I couldn't handle the pressure.

handle

han|dle 2 [ `hændl ] noun count **

1. ) the part of a door or window that you use for opening it:

She turned the handle and pushed the door open.

a ) the part of an object that you hold in your hand when you use it:

knives with plastic handles

2. ) VERY INFORMAL someone's name

have/get a handle on something INFORMAL

to understand something well:

I soon began to get a handle on the new software.