handful

American  

[hand-fool] / ˈhænd fʊl /

noun

plural

handfuls

1. the quantity or amount that the hand can hold.

   a handful of coins.

2. a small amount, number, or quantity.

   a handful of men.

3. Informal. a person or thing that is as much as one can manage or control.

   The baby's tantrums made him a handful.

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handful British  

/ ˈhændfʊl /

noun

1. the amount or number that can be held in the hand

2. a small number or quantity

3. informal a person or thing difficult to manage or control

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Spelling

See -ful.

Etymology

Origin of handful

before 900; Middle English, Old English. See hand, -ful

Example Sentences

The Woods – I’ve been to a handful of consumption lounges—from San Diego to Las Vegas to Richmond, Illinois—and this one is easily my favorite.

From Salon

Most of the cases were reported in Japan, with a handful from the U.S.,

From The Wall Street Journal

So a prudent investor can buy the tech fund now—or purchase a handful of individual names that look ready to drive the sector higher.

From Barron's

He smiled big, as if refueled by a handful of words.

From Literature

A box of tissues appears in front of me and I take one, two, a handful.

From Literature