spar / crossbar / islet
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spar / rail
A load-bearing, usually elongated component in a structure that provides stability. Spars or rails are found, for example, in aircraft wings, bed frames, ladders, or vehicle frames.
Der Holm des Flugzeugflügels muss extremen Belastungen standhalten.
The spar of the aircraft wing must withstand extreme stresses.
handle
A handlebar on a device used for pushing, pulling, or carrying. Typical examples are the handles of a wheelbarrow or a plow.
Er packte die Holme der Schubkarre und schob sie den Hügel hinauf.
He grabbed the handles of the wheelbarrow and pushed it up the hill.
crossbar
The horizontal bar of a sports goal, especially in soccer, handball, or ice hockey.
Der Ball prallte vom Holm zurück ins Spielfeld.
The ball bounced off the crossbar back into the field.
islet
A small island, especially in a river or lake. This meaning is rather regional and less commonly used.
Auf dem kleinen Holm in der Mitte des Sees steht eine einzelne Weide.
On the small islet in the middle of the lake stands a single willow tree.
The meaning of 'Holm' depends heavily on the context. In technology and construction, it means a load-bearing part; in sports, the crossbar of a goal; and in geography, a small island.
Der Techniker prüfte den Holm des Fahrgestells.
The technician inspected the spar of the chassis.
In the technical meaning, 'Holm' is often used with a genitive construction to specify what the component belongs to. Typical examples are rails or spars in ladders, beds, or vehicles.
Die Holme der Leiter sind aus Aluminium gefertigt.
The rails of the ladder are made of aluminum.
When 'Holm' refers to a handle, it is often used with verbs of grasping or moving. You grab or take hold of the handles in order to guide a device.
Der Gärtner ergriff die Holme der Schubkarre und begann mit der Arbeit.
The gardener took hold of the handles of the wheelbarrow and began working.
In a sports context, especially in soccer, 'Holm' is often used with prepositions like 'an' (against/on) or 'auf' (onto/on) to describe where the ball makes contact.
Der Ball klatschte an den Holm.
The ball smacked against the crossbar.
The meaning 'kleine Insel' (small island) is rare and is used mainly in certain regions or in literary texts. It is uncommon in normal usage.
Ein alter Fischer lebte allein auf einem Holm in der Schlei.
An old fisherman lived alone on an islet in the Schlei.
island
In the rare regional sense, Insel and Holm can both refer to a small area of land in a river or lake. Insel is the generally understood word, while Holm is regional and less common in this sense. Normally use Insel, and use Holm only in the corresponding regional usage.
Die Bewohner gingen bei niedrigem Wasser zu dem Holm im Fluss.
At low water, the residents walked to the islet in the river.
Mit dem kleinen Boot fuhren wir zu der Insel im See.
We took the small boat to the island in the lake.
