1 [+ obj] a : to touch, feel, hold, or move (something) with your hand ▪ Handle the fruit carefully or it will bruise. ▪ The baked potatoes were too hot to handle with our bare hands. b : to manage or control (something) with your hands ▪ He knows how to handle a motorcycle. ▪ He handles his motorcycle well. ▪ She learned how to handle a weapon.
2 [+ obj] : to do the work required for (something) ▪ She handles all the bookkeeping. ▪ The system is handled by the main computer. ▪ She's proven that she can handle anything. ▪ The airport handles both passenger and cargo flights.
3 [+ obj] : to deal with (a person, situation, etc.) successfully ▪ She couldn't handle being away from her children for more than a couple of days. ▪ He's having a hard time handling the pressure of his new job. ▪ A good politician knows how to handle the press. ▪ Do you think he can handle the truth?
4 [+ obj] : to express thoughts about (something) in a piece of music, writing, or art ▪ The class discussed how the author handled [=dealt with] the theme of loneliness in the novel.
5 [+ obj] : to be involved with the buying or selling of (something) ▪ They own a store that handles rugs. ▪ He was arrested for handling stolen goods.
6 [no obj] —used to describe how easy or difficult it is to control a vehicle ▪ I'm looking for a car that handles well in the snow. ▪ “How does his motorcycle handle?” “It handles very well.”