palm
/pɑːm/ (bre, ipa) · /pɑːm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpäm ˈpälm ˈpȯm, ˈpȯlm/ (ame, mw)
palm — noun
1. the soft, slightly curved area on the inside of your hand, stretching from where
the soft, slightly curved area on the inside of your hand, stretching from where the fingers begin down to the wrist.
Sofia held the warm coin tightly in the palm of her right hand.
in the palm of [possessive] hand
The fortune teller traced a long line across Marcus's open palm.
open palm — physical description
Aiko rubbed some hand cream into her palms after washing the dishes.
Sweat collected in the boy's palms before his piano exam.
The tiny frog sat quietly on Lina's palm for almost a minute.
- back of the hand
the opposite, outer surface of the hand
用法筆記
Often paired with possessives ('my palm', 'his palms') and prepositions like 'in', 'on', and 'across'. Distinguish from sense 2 (the tropical tree).
常見錯誤
2. a tall plant of warm regions whose straight, branchless trunk ends in a crown of
a tall plant of warm regions whose straight, branchless trunk ends in a crown of large, often feather-shaped or fan-shaped leaves; some types produce dates or coconuts.
Tall palms lined the white beach at the edge of the resort.
common landscape collocation: palms line
Carlos climbed a coconut palm to fetch fruit for the children.
compound: coconut palm
The hotel garden had three date palms near the swimming pool.
A strong wind bent the palms but did not break their trunks.
Mia took a photo of the sunset behind a row of tall palms.
- palm tree
the full compound; identical meaning
用法筆記
Frequently used in compounds: 'palm tree', 'coconut palm', 'date palm', 'palm leaf', 'palm oil'. Saying just 'palm' (without 'tree') is common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
3. to study the lines and shapes on the inner surface of a person's hand in order t
to study the lines and shapes on the inner surface of a person's hand in order to predict things about who they are or what will happen to them.
An old fortune teller palmed Diego and traced the line for a happy marriage.
palm + person (object)
Grandma Rosa palmed her grandchildren each New Year, reading lines for a lucky future.
habitual past tense; reading lines for predictions
A street fortune teller in Bangkok palmed Sarah and predicted a long marriage.
A wandering palmist palmed Yusuf at the temple gate and predicted a long journey overseas.
- read someone's palm
the more common phrasing; same meaning
文法句型
palm + someone (informal: read someone's palm)
用法筆記
Rare as a verb — most speakers say 'read someone's palm' or 'do palm reading' instead. Object is always a person.
常見錯誤
palm — verb
1. to secretly hold a small object inside your closed hand so that no one can see i
to secretly hold a small object inside your closed hand so that no one can see it — used when performing a magic trick or when quietly stealing something.
The magician palmed the silver coin and pretended to throw it into the air.
palm + small object (magic trick context)
A young thief palmed two rings from the jewellery counter while smiling at the clerk.
palm + object (theft context)
Daniel palmed the dice during the card game so his cousin would not see them.
The little girl palmed a chocolate from the bowl when her mother turned away.
- reveal
to show openly
文法句型
palm + object (small item)
用法筆記
Object must be small enough to fit fully inside a closed hand (a coin, card, ring, dice). Cannot be used for larger items like books or bottles.
常見錯誤
2. in football (soccer), to strike the ball with the flat inner part of your hand s
in football (soccer), to strike the ball with the flat inner part of your hand so that it does not enter the goal — said of a goalkeeper.
The keeper palmed the shot away just before it crossed the line.
palm + away (typical particle)
Nakamura palmed the powerful header over the crossbar in the final minute.
palm + over the crossbar (collocation)
Brazil's goalkeeper palmed the free kick wide of the right post.
The young keeper bravely palmed the striker's shot onto the bar.
文法句型
palm + ball (+ away / over / wide)
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a goalkeeper. Frequently followed by directional particles: 'away', 'over', 'wide', 'onto'. Common in match commentary.
常見錯誤
3. in basketball, to let the ball rest briefly against your hand while bouncing it
in basketball, to let the ball rest briefly against your hand while bouncing it down the court — this counts as a foul because the rules require continuous bouncing.
The referee whistled when Tyrone clearly palmed the ball near the free-throw line.
palm + the ball (basketball foul)
Marcus palmed the ball during his third-quarter dribble and the referee called the foul instantly.
palm + the ball during dribbling
The coach warned Maya not to palm the ball when she changed direction.
Replays showed that the star guard palmed the ball twice in the final quarter.
- carry
the standard referee term for the same violation
文法句型
palm + the ball
用法筆記
Specific to basketball. Distinguish from sense 2 (football goalkeeper deflection): here the action is illegal and happens during dribbling, not a save.