1. A touching, feeling, or manipulating with the hands.
2. The process of packing and distributing merchandise: a charge for shipping and handling.
3. The way in which something is handled or taken care of: a situation that required delicate handling.
4. The way in which a presentation, especially an artistic or theatrical work, is treated.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.