# handling

Pronunciation: say "HAND-ling" /ˈhændl̩ɪŋ/

## Noun

1. The act of touching, controlling, managing, or caring for something with the hands, or in a way that resembles using the hands.
   - Simple: The act of touching, holding, or controlling something with your hands.
   - _Proper handling of laboratory chemicals prevents most accidents._
   - _The museum requires special handling for its oldest manuscripts._
3. The criminal offense of trading in stolen goods: buying, selling, or otherwise dealing in property known to have been stolen.
   - Simple: The crime of buying, selling, or dealing in goods that you know were stolen.
   - _She received a two-year sentence for handling, having sold dozens of stolen laptops._
   - _Detectives linked the warehouse to a wider operation in handling._
4. The characteristic way an artist uses the pencil or brush, recognizable as an individual style of touch.
   - Simple: The personal way an artist uses a pencil or brush.
   - _Critics praised the delicate handling in his late portraits._
   - _The sketch shows a confident handling that few students ever achieve._

## Verb

2. Present participle and gerund of handle. — present participle and gerund of handle
   - Simple: Present participle of handle. Use this -ing form when the action is happening right now.
   - _The crew is handling the cargo during the night shift._
   - _He keeps handling the delicate equipment without gloves._

## Noun

5. The mechanism by which something is operated, manipulated, or controlled. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: The part of a machine or device used to work or control it.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 3–5** — From Middle English handlinge, from Old English handlung, equivalent to "handle" plus "-ing." It is related to Dutch handeling, German Handlung, and Swedish handling.
**Meaning 2** — From the word "handle."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/handling (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).