Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

palm2

Syllabification: (palm)
Pronunciation: /pä(l)m/

Translate palm | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of palm

noun

  • the inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers.
  • a part of a glove that covers the palm of the hand.
  • a hard shield worn on the hand by sailmakers to protect the palm in sewing.
  • the palmate part of an antler.

verb

  • 1 [with object] conceal (a card or other small object) in the hand, especially as part of a trick or theft:he would spin wild tales while palming your wristwatch
  • 2 [with object] hit (something) with the palm of the hand.
  • Basketball illegally grip (the ball) with the hand while dribbling.

Phrases

have (or hold) someone in the palm of one's hand

have someone under one’s control or influence:she had the audience in the palm of her hand

read someone's palm

tell someone’s fortune by looking at the lines on their palm.

Phrasal Verbs

palm someone off

informal persuade someone to accept something by deception:most sellers are palmed off with a fraction of what something is worth

palm something off

sell or dispose of something by misrepresentation or fraud:they palmed off their shoddiest products on the Russians

Derivatives

palmar


adjective

palmed

adjective
[in combination]:sweaty-palmed

palmful

Pronunciation: /-fəl/

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French paume, from Latin palma. Current senses of the verb date from the late 17th century

palm in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of palm in the British & World English dictionary