hand shape
How fingers arrange
Hand shape refers to the specific configuration of the fingers, thumb, and palm when forming a gesture or sign.
The term appears most often in sign language linguistics, where distinct hand shapes are fundamental units of meaning—changing the hand shape can change the sign entirely.
It also applies in other contexts: The instructor demonstrated the correct hand shape for the chord, Her hand shape suggested she was about to grab something.
- gestureCommunicative body movement
- palmHand's flat interior
- fistTightly closed hand
- karate chopStriking with hand's edge
- fingersAppendages of the hand
grip · cupped · claw · pointing · waving · sign language · finger spelling · mudra · peace sign · puppet · silhouette · shadow · shadow puppet · outline · contour · grasping · splayed · clasped
- hand featurespalm, fingers, knuckles, fingernails, thumb
- sign languageAmerican Sign Language, British Sign Language, fingerspelling, ASL, handshape
- palmistrypalm reading, palm lines, chiromancy, palm reader, heart line
- piano basicscurved fingers, middle C, white keys, black keys, posture
- piano techniquefinger technique, scales, touch, legato, staccato
- lobed shapesclover, shamrock, trefoil, quatrefoil, cinquefoil