palm

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The inner surface of the hand, between the wrist and the fingers.

   My palms were rough after carrying bricks all day.

2. 2
   noun

   A tropical tree with a tall, straight trunk and large leaves at the top.

   Tall palms lined the beach in California.

3. 3
   verb

   To hide something in the palm of your hand, especially in a trick.

   The magician palmed the card without anyone noticing.

Common collocations

• palm kernel Noun + noun
• bamboo palm Noun + noun

From Middle English palme, paume, from Old French palme, paulme, paume (“palm of the hand, ball, tennis”), from Latin palma (“palm of the hand, hand-breadth”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂(e)meh₂ (“palm of the hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (“flat”). Doublet of palmo, palma, and pam. Cognate with Ancient Greek παλάμη (palámē, “palm of the hand”), Old English folm (“palm of the hand”), Old Irish lám (“hand”).

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images