Handkerchief
/ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf,ˈhæŋkərtʃiːf/noun
A small piece of cloth or paper, usually used for blowing nose or wiping sweat off.
Mary took out a handkerchief from her pocket and dried her tears.
Often appears as...
- blow your nose with a handkerchief
- wipe sweat with a handkerchief
noun
A decorative piece of material, usually of lace or fine linen, used as a fashion accessory.
She complemented her elegant dress with a lace handkerchief.
Often appears as...
- lace handkerchief
- silk handkerchief
Usage tips
Approving
Fashion
noun
A small piece of cloth or paper, usually used for blowing nose or wiping sweat off.
Mary took out a handkerchief from her pocket and dried her tears.
Often appears as...
- blow your nose with a handkerchief
- wipe sweat with a handkerchief
noun
A decorative piece of material, usually of lace or fine linen, used as a fashion accessory.
She complemented her elegant dress with a lace handkerchief.
Often appears as...
- lace handkerchief
- silk handkerchief
Usage tips
Approving
Fashion
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Practical Uses
Handkerchiefs are often used for personal hygiene, especially before disposable tissues became common.
He carried a handkerchief to avoid having to wipe his hands on his clothes.
Pro Tip 2/3Symbol of Preparedness
Carrying a handkerchief can suggest that someone is practical and prepared for everyday problems.
She always has a handkerchief ready for any spill or sneeze.
Pro Tip 3/3Old-fashioned Charm
A handkerchief can convey old-world manners, evoking a sense of refinement and care for personal appearance.
Offering a handkerchief to someone in distress is a gesture of old-fashioned charm.
Compare with
bandanaclothkerchiefnapkinragtissuetowelwipe
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Video examples
Cynthia Kenyon:...
And next you're going to see the long-lived mutant when it's young. So this animal is going to live twice as long. Is it miserable? It doesn't seem to be. It's active. You can't tell the difference really. And they can be completely fertile -- have the same number of progeny as the normal worms do. Now get out your handkerchiefs here.
Video examples
Experiments that hint of...
going to live twice as long is it miserable it doesn't seem to be it's very active you can't tell the difference really and they can be completely fertile have the same number of progeny the normal worms do now get out your handkerchiefs here you're going to see in just two weeks the normal worms are
Video examples
Activism needs...
but with lots of people, is make gifts for people in power, so not be outside screaming at them, but to give them something like a bespoke handkerchief saying, "Don't blow it. Use your power for good. We know you've got a difficult job in your position of power. How can we help you?"
Video examples
Brain Magic - The Common...
magical circle alright so uh so your common sense is telling you that something's about to happen yes you're not sure where we didn't tell you anything clap rearrange so I have to hear I'm a half dollar she please examine it you can examine the handkerchief and what
Video examples
Photographer Danny Lyon...
deep inside another pocket I might have removed the prison and wrapped that in handkerchief the idea was to get inside the jail with my camera when two silver across the line that was bit and was being manhandled by the baton swinging
Video examples
What hallucination...
various things he was seeing. The first thing he said was he saw a handkerchief in midair. It was a large blue handkerchief with four orange circles. And he knew it was a hallucination. You don't have handkerchiefs in midair.
Video examples
Biodome Bet PIPE Doomsday...
gas masks surgical masks and even handkerchiefs can reduce exposure to chemical or biological agents but only a sealed-off safe room can offer complete protection from the release of lethal
Video examples
Dog of Death PIPE...
covering an area the size of a large handkerchief this means they can detect smells in a range we would never notice this incredible natural ability is put
Video examples
Forget Wi-Fi. Meet the...
And so I want to simulate fog, and that's why I brought a handkerchief with me. And let me put the handkerchief over the solar cell. First you notice
Video examples
Odd Birds Take a Road...
sure handkerchief should be required to yield you after processing birds usually have somebody who will drive the birds
Video examples
Cynthia Kenyon:...
And next you're going to see the long-lived mutant when it's young. So this animal is going to live twice as long. Is it miserable? It doesn't seem to be. It's active. You can't tell the difference really. And they can be completely fertile -- have the same number of progeny as the normal worms do. Now get out your handkerchiefs here.
Video examples
Experiments that hint of...
going to live twice as long is it miserable it doesn't seem to be it's very active you can't tell the difference really and they can be completely fertile have the same number of progeny the normal worms do now get out your handkerchiefs here you're going to see in just two weeks the normal worms are
Video examples
Activism needs...
but with lots of people, is make gifts for people in power, so not be outside screaming at them, but to give them something like a bespoke handkerchief saying, "Don't blow it. Use your power for good. We know you've got a difficult job in your position of power. How can we help you?"
Video examples
Brain Magic - The Common...
magical circle alright so uh so your common sense is telling you that something's about to happen yes you're not sure where we didn't tell you anything clap rearrange so I have to hear I'm a half dollar she please examine it you can examine the handkerchief and what
Video examples
Photographer Danny Lyon...
deep inside another pocket I might have removed the prison and wrapped that in handkerchief the idea was to get inside the jail with my camera when two silver across the line that was bit and was being manhandled by the baton swinging
Video examples
What hallucination...
various things he was seeing. The first thing he said was he saw a handkerchief in midair. It was a large blue handkerchief with four orange circles. And he knew it was a hallucination. You don't have handkerchiefs in midair.
Video examples
Biodome Bet PIPE Doomsday...
gas masks surgical masks and even handkerchiefs can reduce exposure to chemical or biological agents but only a sealed-off safe room can offer complete protection from the release of lethal
Video examples
Dog of Death PIPE...
covering an area the size of a large handkerchief this means they can detect smells in a range we would never notice this incredible natural ability is put
Video examples
Forget Wi-Fi. Meet the...
And so I want to simulate fog, and that's why I brought a handkerchief with me. And let me put the handkerchief over the solar cell. First you notice
Video examples
Odd Birds Take a Road...
sure handkerchief should be required to yield you after processing birds usually have somebody who will drive the birds
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Randy Houser
American Musician
Granny beads are what they're called when a grandma works the garden all day - you always see them - they have a handkerchief around their neck with a lot of dust on them, and then the sweat will go down and make these black beads of sweat and dirt around their neck. And that's what they call granny beads.
Quote examples
Herb Caen
American Journalist
Just two days in Manhattan and you find yourself looking for a place to wash your handkerchief after you wipe your forehead and it comes away black. Is there a dirtier or more fascinating city anywhere in the land? The answer to both parts of the question has to be positively negative.
Quote examples
Fanny Kemble
English Actress
The most intense curiosity and excitement prevailed, and though the weather was uncertain, enormous masses of densely packed people lined the road, shouting and waving hats and handkerchiefs as we flew by them.
Quote examples
Lizzie Andrew Borden
American Celebrity
Maggie went out of doors to wash the windows and father came out into the kitchen and said he did not know whether he would go down to the post office or not. And then I sprinkled some handkerchiefs to iron.
Quote examples
Greg Lynn
American Architect
Before computers, you'd start designing using shapes of cubes. Now I can start with something like a handkerchief, an object that doesn't have strong inside and outside boundaries or much closed volume.
Quote examples
Rachel Maddow
American Journalist
A handkerchief can never be put in another pocket after it has been in one pocket. I don't walk under ladders. I have items of clothing that are lucky for me. That rotates, but I am luck-oriented.
Quote examples
Helen Fisher
American Scientist
Once you fall for someone, their smell can be a powerful thing. Women will wear their boyfriends' T-shirts, and throughout tales in history men have held on to their lover's handkerchief.
Quote examples
Jude Law
British Actor
I sometimes shy away because I don't want to be too 'showy-offy' but the older I get I think, 'You have a handkerchief, put it in your pocket.
Quote examples
Ann Widdecombe
British Politician
Always carry a handkerchief. Especially in television studios.
Quote examples
Reinhold Messner
Italian Explorer
I am my own home, and my handkerchief is my flag.
Quote examples
Randy Houser
American Musician
Granny beads are what they're called when a grandma works the garden all day - you always see them - they have a handkerchief around their neck with a lot of dust on them, and then the sweat will go down and make these black beads of sweat and dirt around their neck. And that's what they call granny beads.
Quote examples
Herb Caen
American Journalist
Just two days in Manhattan and you find yourself looking for a place to wash your handkerchief after you wipe your forehead and it comes away black. Is there a dirtier or more fascinating city anywhere in the land? The answer to both parts of the question has to be positively negative.
Quote examples
Fanny Kemble
English Actress
The most intense curiosity and excitement prevailed, and though the weather was uncertain, enormous masses of densely packed people lined the road, shouting and waving hats and handkerchiefs as we flew by them.
Quote examples
Lizzie Andrew Borden
American Celebrity
Maggie went out of doors to wash the windows and father came out into the kitchen and said he did not know whether he would go down to the post office or not. And then I sprinkled some handkerchiefs to iron.
Quote examples
Greg Lynn
American Architect
Before computers, you'd start designing using shapes of cubes. Now I can start with something like a handkerchief, an object that doesn't have strong inside and outside boundaries or much closed volume.
Quote examples
Rachel Maddow
American Journalist
A handkerchief can never be put in another pocket after it has been in one pocket. I don't walk under ladders. I have items of clothing that are lucky for me. That rotates, but I am luck-oriented.
Quote examples
Helen Fisher
American Scientist
Once you fall for someone, their smell can be a powerful thing. Women will wear their boyfriends' T-shirts, and throughout tales in history men have held on to their lover's handkerchief.
Quote examples
Jude Law
British Actor
I sometimes shy away because I don't want to be too 'showy-offy' but the older I get I think, 'You have a handkerchief, put it in your pocket.
Quote examples
Ann Widdecombe
British Politician
Always carry a handkerchief. Especially in television studios.
Quote examples
Reinhold Messner
Italian Explorer
I am my own home, and my handkerchief is my flag.
Example 1 of 10
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