handshake

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The grasping of hands by two people when greeting, leave-taking, or making an agreement.

   Eccles' handshake, eager and practiced and hard, seems to symbolize for him an embrace. For an instant Rabbit fears he will never let go.

2. 2
   noun

   grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract)

3. 3
   noun

   An exchange of signals between two devices when communications begin in order to ensure synchronization.

4. 4
   verb

   To perform a handshake; to shake hands.

5. 5
   verb

   To perform a handshake with another device.

Etymology

From hand + shake. See the appendix for the history of the gesture itself.