BACKHAND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does backhand mean? 

• BACKHAND (noun)
  The noun BACKHAND has 1 sense:

1. a return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke

  Familiarity information: BACKHAND used as a noun is very rare.

• BACKHAND (adjective)
  The adjective BACKHAND has 2 senses:

1. (of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke

2. (of handwriting) having the letters slanting backward

  Familiarity information: BACKHAND used as an adjective is rare.

• BACKHAND (verb)
  The verb BACKHAND has 1 sense:

1. hit a tennis ball backhand

  Familiarity information: BACKHAND used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BACKHAND (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

backhand; backhand shot; backhand stroke

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

return (a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player)

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

two-handed backhand (a backhand shot made holding the racquet in both hands)

Derivation:

backhand (hit a tennis ball backhand)

• BACKHAND (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke

Synonyms:

backhand; backhanded

Antonym:

forehand ((of racket strokes) made with palm facing direction of stroke)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of handwriting) having the letters slanting backward

Synonyms:

backhand; left-slanting

Similar:

written (set down in writing in any of various ways)

Domain category:

handwriting (the activity of writing by hand)

• BACKHAND (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hit a tennis ball backhand

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "backhand" is one way to...):

hit (cause to move by striking)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

backhand (a return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke)