Definitions of hold in various dictionaries:
noun -
the act of grasping
noun -
understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
noun -
power by which something or someone is affected or dominated
noun -
time during which some action is awaited
noun -
a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
noun -
a stronghold
noun -
a cell in a jail or prison
noun -
the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
noun -
the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo
verb -
keep in a certain state, position, or activity
verb -
have or hold in one's hands or grip
verb -
organize or be responsible for
verb -
have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
verb -
keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
verb -
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
verb -
to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement
verb -
secure and keep for possible future use or application
verb -
have rightfully
verb -
be the physical support of
verb -
contain or hold
verb -
have room for
verb -
remain in a certain state, position, or condition
verb -
support or hold in a certain manner
verb -
be valid, applicable, or true
verb -
assert or affirm
verb -
have as a major characteristic
verb -
be capable of holding or containing
verb -
arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance
verb -
protect against a challenge or attack
verb -
bind by an obligation
verb -
hold the attention of
verb -
remain committed to
verb -
resist or confront with resistance
verb -
be pertinent or relevant or applicable
verb -
stop dealing with
verb -
lessen the intensity of
verb -
keep from departing
verb -
take and maintain control over, often by violent means
verb -
cause to stop
verb -
cover as for protection against noise or smell
verb -
drink alcohol without showing ill effects
verb -
aim, point, or direct
verb -
declare to be
verb -
be in accord
verb -
keep from exhaling or expelling
To have and keep in one’s grasp: held the reins tightly.
To aim or direct; point: held a hose on the fire.
To keep from falling or moving; support: a nail too small to hold the mirror; hold the horse steady; papers that were held together with tape and glue.
To sustain the pressure of: The bridge can’t hold that much weight.
To keep from departing or getting away: Hold the bus! Hold the dog until I find the leash.
To keep in custody: held the suspect for questioning.
To retain the attention or interest of: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound.
To avoid letting out or expelling: The swimmer couldn’t hold her breath any longer.
To be filled by; contain.
To be capable of holding.
To have as a chief characteristic or quality: The film holds a number of surprises.
To have in store: Let’s see what the future holds.
To have and maintain in one’s possession: holds a great deal of property.
To have as a responsible position or a privilege: held the governorship for six years.
To have in recognition of achievement or superiority: holds the record for the one-mile race; holds the respect of her peers.
To maintain control over: The dam held the floodwaters.
To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Students held the administrative building for a week.
To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example).
To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: held himself as a gentleman at all times.
To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us.
To defer the immediate handling of: asked the receptionist to hold all calls during the meeting.
To be the legal possessor of.
To bind by a contract.
To adj udge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
To make accountable; obligate: You certainly did hold me to my promise.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: hold a grudge; hold it a point of honor not to reveal one’s sources; holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Florida; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To maintain a grasp or grip on something.
To stay securely fastened: The chain held.
To maintain a desired or accustomed position or condition: hopes the weather will hold.
To withstand stress, pressure, or opposition: The defense held.
To continue in the same direction: The ship held to a southwesterly course.
To be valid, applicable, or true: The theory holds.
To have legal right or title.
To halt an intended action.
To stop the countdown during a missile or spacecraft launch.
To have in one’s possession illicit or illegally obtained material or goods, especially narcotics: The suspect was holding.
The act or a means of grasping.
A manner of grasping an opponent, as in wrestling or aikido: a neck hold; an arm hold.
Something that may be grasped or gripped, as for support.
A bond or force that attaches or restrains, or by which something is affected or dominated: a writer with a strong hold on the reading public.
Complete control: has a firm hold on the complex issues.
Full understanding: has a good hold on physics.
Music.
The sustaining of a note longer than its indicated time value.
The symbol designating this pause; a fermata.
A direction or an indication that something is to be reserved or deferred.
A temporary halt, as in a countdown.
A prison cell.
The state of being in confinement; custody.
A fortified place; a stronghold.
To retain in one’s possession or control: held back valuable information; held back my tears.
To impede the progress of.
To restrain oneself.
To limit: Please hold the noise down.
To have (a job): holds down two jobs.
To keep at a distance; resist: held the creditors off.
To stop or delay doing something: Let’s hold off until we have more data.
To maintain one’s grip; cling.
To continue to do something; persist.
To wait for something wanted or requested, especially to keep a telephone connection open.
To present or proffer as something attainable.
To continue to be in supply or service; last: Our food is holding out nicely.
To continue to resist: The defending garrison held out for a month.
To refuse to reach or satisfy an agreement.
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
To continue a term of office past the usual length of time.
To prolong the engagement of: The film was held over for weeks.
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
To obstruct or delay.
To rob while armed, often at gunpoint.
To offer or present as an example: held the essay up as a model for the students.
To continue to function without losing force or effectiveness; cope: managed to hold up under the daily stress.
To communicate with, as by telephone: tried to get hold of you but the line was busy.
To gain control of.
To be left with empty hands.
To be forced to assume total responsibility when it ought to have been shared.
To assume responsibility, especially in another’s absence.
To stop doing what one is engaged in doing.
Into a state of temporary interruption without total disconnection during a telephone call: had to put me on hold for five minutes.
Into a state of delay or indeterminate suspension: had to put the romance on hold.
adj - to maintain possession of [v HELD, HOLDEN, HOLDING, HOLDS] : HOLDABLE