palm

¹ American  

[pahm] / pɑm /

noun

1. the part of the inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the bases of the fingers.

2. the corresponding part of the forefoot of an animal.

3. the part of a glove covering this part of the hand.

4. Also called sailmaker's palm.  a stiff rawhide or metal shield worn over this part of the hand by sailmakers to serve as a thimble.

5. a linear measure of from 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 centimeters), based on the breadth of the hand.

6. a linear measure of from 7 to 10 inches (17.5 to 25 centimeters), based on the length of the hand.

7. the flat, expanded part of the horn or antler of a deer.

8. a flat, widened part at the end of an armlike projection.

9. Nautical.

   1. the blade of an oar.

   2. the inner face of an anchor fluke.

   3. (loosely) an anchor fluke.

10. a flat-topped bearing member at the head of a stanchion.

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verb (used with object)

• palms,
  present (3rd person singular)
• palmed,
  past participle,  past
• palming
  present participle

1. to conceal in the palm, as in cheating at cards or dice or in juggling.

2. to pick up stealthily.

3. to hold in the hand.

4. to impose (something) fraudulently (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to palm stolen jewels on someone.

5. to touch or stroke with the palm or hand.

6. to shake hands with.

7. Basketball. to grip (the ball) momentarily with the hand in the act of dribbling.

verb phrase

1. palm off to dispose of by deception, trickery, or fraud; substitute (something) with intent to deceive.

   Someone had palmed off a forgery on the museum officials.

idioms

1. grease someone's palm, to bribe: Also cross someone's palm

   Before any work could begin, it was necessary to grease the superintendent's palm.

palm ² American  

[pahm] / pɑm /

noun

1. any of numerous plants of the family Palmae, most species being tall, unbranched trees surmounted by a crown of large pinnate or palmately cleft leaves.

2. any of various other trees or shrubs that resemble this.

3. a leaf or branch of such a tree, especially as formerly borne to signify victory or as used on festive occasions.

4. a representation of such a leaf or branch, as on a military or other decoration of honor, usually indicating a second award of the decoration.

5. the reward of honor due to a victor.

   In oratory she yields the palm to no one.

6. victory; triumph; success.

   He carried off the palm by sheer perseverance.

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palm ¹ British  

/ pɑːm /

noun

1. the inner part of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

2. a corresponding part in animals, esp apes and monkeys

3. a linear measure based on the breadth or length of a hand, equal to three to four inches or seven to ten inches respectively

4. the part of a glove that covers the palm

5. a hard leather shield worn by sailmakers to protect the palm of the hand

6. 1. the side of the blade of an oar that faces away from the direction of a boat's movement during a stroke

   2. the face of the fluke of an anchor

7. a flattened or expanded part of the antlers of certain deer

8. at one's mercy or command

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verb

1. to conceal in or about the hand, as in sleight-of-hand tricks

2. to touch or soothe with the palm of the hand

palm ² British  

/ pɑːm /

noun

1. any treelike plant of the tropical and subtropical monocotyledonous family Arecaceae (formerly Palmae or Palmaceae ), usually having a straight unbranched trunk crowned with large pinnate or palmate leaves

2. a leaf or branch of any of these trees, a symbol of victory, success, etc

3. merit or victory

4. an emblem or insignia representing a leaf or branch worn on certain military decorations

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palm More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing palm

• cross someone's palm
• grease someone's palm
• itchy palm

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• palmlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• palming
  present
• palmed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• palm
  simple
• palms
  simple
• have palmed
  perfect
• has palmed
  perfect
• am palming
  progressive
• are palming
  progressive
• is palming
  progressive
• have been palming
  perfect progressive
• has been palming
  perfect progressive

Past

• palmed
  simple
• had palmed
  perfect
• was palming
  progressive
• were palming
  progressive
• had been palming
  perfect progressive

Future

• will palm
  simple
• will have palmed
  perfect
• will be palming
  progressive
• will have been palming
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of palm¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin palma (cognate with Old English folm “hand”); replacing Middle English paume, from Middle French, from Latin palma

Origin of palm²

First recorded before 900; Middle English palm(e), paume, pame, Old English palm, palma, from Latin palma “palm tree,” special use of palma palm ¹

Explanation

Your palm is the inside part of your hand. When you clap, you smack your palms together repeatedly. Your palm extends from your wrist to your fingers. You can hold an orange in your palm or rest your palm on your friend's feverish forehead. Palm can also be a verb, meaning "steal" or "hide inside your hand." So a magician might palm a coin in her palm, and a shoplifter might palm a diamond ring in a jewelry store. Palm trees are named for their leaves' similarity to the fingers of a large hand.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

palm palms palmed palming

Late last month, an Indonesia-based wildlife foundation shared footage showing an orangutan writhing on the ground on a palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan, one of Indonesia's hardest-hit provinces.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

If you have a palm tree, have a professional remove dead fronds before storms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

In this context, medbeds seemed conceptually like fun oddities, akin more to palm readings than to predatory disinformation.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

Find insight on precious metals futures, palm oil, South32 and more in the latest Market Talks covering Basic Materials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

One day I was sitting on the ground while they fed on palm nuts high up in the branches of an oil palm tree.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Around half of the date palms here have no fruit at all.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

His opponent responds by juggling his outstretched palms in a "6-7," a viral youth meme that has no fixed meaning but has become so ubiquitous that even Pope Leo has taken to performing it.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—On a weekday morning this summer, Amy Cox instructed a small group of third-graders to rub their palms together, then clap out syllables for the words “apple,” “turtle” and “table.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

Referred to as “pretiola,” meaning “little rewards” in Latin, their twists were meant to look like arms crossed in prayer, with the palms of each hand touching the opposite shoulder.

From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2026

I raised my palms for a blessing that I made up on the spot because I have never actually been trained as monk.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Bayern trailed 2-1 in the shootout when a flying Kahn threw his bear-like paws in front of Zlatko Zahovic's effort, then palmed Amedeo Carboni's strike on to the crossbar.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

The Gunners briefly shook off their shackles as Piero Hincapie's curler from just inside the area was palmed away by Robert Sanchez.

From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026

That goal looked to have sealed the points from Juve but Baldanzi quickly halved the deficit after Michele Di Gregorio palmed away Evan Ferguson's low drive.

From Barron's ● Dec. 20, 2025

Although Fulham goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte got a hand to the cross, he palmed the ball into the path of Wissa, who could not miss.

From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2025

He palmed it like a playing card, but only for a few seconds until Sydney moved by as if preparing to exit.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

But on the bestsellers display at your favorite local indie, it represents the small pleasure of palming a near-pocket-size book in your hands.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

"For me, it's ridiculous," the goalkeeper added, taking a break from palming away shots struck by friends wearing colorful Brazil and Barcelona jerseys.

From Barron's ● May 13, 2026

In a free-flowing first half, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made a great save in the 38th by diving to his right and palming away a shot from Brennan Johnson after a quick counter by Spurs.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 24, 2023

There were a few comfortable takes for the experienced goalkeeper and he was helped out by a Richard Tait clearance after palming a low cross into the six-yard box.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2022

He’d never lost his love for sleight of hand, and he graduated from palming coins to cards, cups, wallets, and watches.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Related Words

• brush
• caress
• feel
• handle
• hit
• kiss
• lick
• pat
• reach
• rub
• strike
• stroke
• tap