HANDLER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does handler mean? 

• HANDLER (noun)
  The noun HANDLER has 3 senses:

1. one who trains or exhibits animals

2. an agent who handles something or someone

3. (sports) someone in charge of training an athlete or a team

  Familiarity information: HANDLER used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HANDLER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

One who trains or exhibits animals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

animal trainer; handler

Hypernyms ("handler" is a kind of...):

trainer (one who trains other persons or animals)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "handler"):

tamer (an animal trainer who tames wild animals)

Derivation:

handle (show and train)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An agent who handles something or someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

the senator's campaign handlers

Hypernyms ("handler" is a kind of...):

agent (a representative who acts on behalf of other persons or organizations)

Derivation:

handle (be in charge of, act on, or dispose of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(sports) someone in charge of training an athlete or a team

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

coach; handler; manager

Hypernyms ("handler" is a kind of...):

trainer (one who trains other persons or animals)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "handler"):

baseball coach; baseball manager (a coach of baseball players)

basketball coach (a coach of basketball players)

conditioner (a trainer of athletes)

football coach (a coach of football players)

hockey coach (a coach of hockey players)

tennis coach (a coach of tennis players)

Instance hyponyms:

John Joseph McGraw; John McGraw; McGraw (United States baseball player and manager (1873-1934))

Derivation:

handle (show and train)

 Context examples 

Her handler hides behind opaque one-way glass.

(The Dog's Nose Knows Malaria, Kevin Enochs/VOA)

Aggressive towards handlers (Harrington 1981).

(A990, Rat Strain, NCI Thesaurus)