What does Hold mean?

Definitions for Hold
hoʊldhold

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Hold.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, holdnoun

    the act of grasping

    "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing"

  2. appreciation, grasp, holdnoun

    understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something

    "he has a good grasp of accounting practices"

  3. holdnoun

    power by which something or someone is affected or dominated

    "he has a hold over them"

  4. delay, hold, time lag, postponement, waitnoun

    time during which some action is awaited

    "instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action"

  5. detention, detainment, hold, custodynoun

    a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

    "his detention was politically motivated"; "the prisoner is on hold"; "he is in the custody of police"

  6. holdnoun

    a stronghold

  7. hold, keepnoun

    a cell in a jail or prison

  8. handle, grip, handgrip, holdnoun

    the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it

    "he grabbed the hammer by the handle"; "it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip"

  9. cargo area, cargo deck, cargo hold, hold, storage areaverb

    the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

  10. keep, maintain, holdverb

    keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"

    "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes"

  11. hold, take holdverb

    have or hold in one's hands or grip

    "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of him"

  12. hold, throw, have, make, giveverb

    organize or be responsible for

    "hold a reception"; "have, throw, or make a party"; "give a course"

  13. have, have got, holdverb

    have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense

    "She has $1,000 in the bank"; "He has got two beautiful daughters"; "She holds a Master's degree from Harvard"

  14. deem, hold, view as, take forverb

    keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

    "take for granted"; "view as important"; "hold these truths to be self-evident"; "I hold him personally responsible"

  15. harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurseverb

    maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

    "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment"

  16. restrain, confine, holdverb

    to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement

    "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade"; "The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center"; "The terrorists held the journalists for ransom"

  17. retain, hold, keep back, hold backverb

    secure and keep for possible future use or application

    "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"

  18. bear, holdverb

    have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices

    "She bears the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a decade"

  19. hold, support, sustain, hold upverb

    be the physical support of; carry the weight of

    "The beam holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?"

  20. hold, bear, carry, containverb

    contain or hold; have within

    "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water"

  21. accommodate, hold, admitverb

    have room for; hold without crowding

    "This hotel can accommodate 250 guests"; "The theater admits 300 people"; "The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people"

  22. holdverb

    remain in a certain state, position, or condition

    "The weather held"; "They held on the road and kept marching"

  23. hold, carry, bearverb

    support or hold in a certain manner

    "She holds her head high"; "He carried himself upright"

  24. prevail, hold, obtainverb

    be valid, applicable, or true

    "This theory still holds"

  25. holdverb

    assert or affirm

    "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good"

  26. holdverb

    have as a major characteristic

    "The novel holds many surprises"; "The book holds in store much valuable advise"

  27. contain, take, holdverb

    be capable of holding or containing

    "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon"

  28. reserve, hold, bookverb

    arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance

    "reserve me a seat on a flight"; "The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family"; "please hold a table at Maxim's"

  29. defend, guard, holdverb

    protect against a challenge or attack

    "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"

  30. oblige, bind, hold, obligateverb

    bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted

    "He's held by a contract"; "I'll hold you by your promise"

  31. holdverb

    hold the attention of

    "The soprano held the audience"; "This story held our interest"; "She can hold an audience spellbound"

  32. holdverb

    remain committed to

    "I hold to these ideas"

  33. defy, withstand, hold, hold upverb

    resist or confront with resistance

    "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held"

  34. apply, hold, go forverb

    be pertinent or relevant or applicable

    "The same laws apply to you!"; "This theory holds for all irrational numbers"; "The same rules go for everyone"

  35. holdverb

    stop dealing with

    "hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting"

  36. control, hold in, hold, contain, check, curb, moderateverb

    lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits

    "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger"

  37. holdverb

    keep from departing

    "Hold the taxi"; "Hold the horse"

  38. holdverb

    take and maintain control over, often by violent means

    "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week"

  39. halt, hold, arrestverb

    cause to stop

    "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses"

  40. holdverb

    cover as for protection against noise or smell

    "She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate"; "hold one's nose"

  41. carry, holdverb

    drink alcohol without showing ill effects

    "He can hold his liquor"; "he had drunk more than he could carry"

  42. holdverb

    aim, point, or direct

    "Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames"

  43. declare, adjudge, holdverb

    declare to be

    "She was declared incompetent"; "judge held that the defendant was innocent"

  44. agree, hold, concur, concordverb

    be in accord; be in agreement

    "We agreed on the terms of the settlement"; "I can't agree with you!"; "I hold with those who say life is sacred"; "Both philosophers concord on this point"

  45. holdverb

    keep from exhaling or expelling

    "hold your breath"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Hold

    in the old glossaries, is mentioned in the same sense with wold, i. e. a governour or chief officer; but in some other place for love, as holdlic, lovely. Edmund Gibson Camden.

  2. Hold

    has the appearance of an interjection; but is the imperative mood. Forbear; stop; be still.

    Hold, ho! lieutenant —— sir —— Montano! Gentlemen,
    Have you forgot all sense of place and duty?
    The general speaks to you —— hold, hold, for shame! William Shakespeare.

    Hold, hold! are all thy empty wishes such!
    A good old woman would have said as much. John Dryden, Pers.

  3. Holdnoun

    Etymology: from the verb.

    Those bards, Cæsar writeth, delivered no certain truth of any thing; neither is there any certain hold to be taken of any antiquity which is received by tradition. Edmund Spenser, on Ireland.

    The wits of the multitude are such, that many things they cannot lay hold on at once. Richard Hooker, Dedication.

    Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 2 Sa. vi. 6.

    This is to give him liberty and power:
    Rather thou should’st lay hold upon him, send him
    To deserv’d death, and a just punishment. Ben Jonson, Catil.

    Let but them
    Find courage to lay hold on this occasion. John Milton, Agonistes.

    The devil himself, when let loose upon Job, could not transport that patient good man beyond his temper, or make him quit his hold. Roger L'Estrange.

    He seiz’d the shining bough with griping hold,
    And rent away with ease the ling’ring gold. John Dryden, Æn.

    The head is divided into four fingers bending forwards, and one opposite to them bending backwards, and of greater strength than any of them singly, which we call the thumb, to join with them severally or united, whereby it is fitted to lay hold of objects of any size or quantity. John Ray, on the Creation.

    Yet then, from all my grief, O Lord,
    Thy mercy set me free,
    Whilst, in the confidence of pray’r,
    My soul took hold on thee. Joseph Addison, Spectator.

    We are strangely backward to lay hold of this safe, this only method of cure. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

    He kept his hold,
    Nor lost ’till beauty was decay’d and old,
    And love was by possession pall’d and cold. George Granville.

    If a man be upon an high place, without rails or good hold, he is ready to fall. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

    The law hath yet another hold on you. William Shakespeare.

    Let it consist with such a man’s interest and safety to wrong you, and then it will be impossible you can have any hold upon him, because there is nothing left to give him a check, or to put in the balance against his profit. Jonathan Swift.

    They lay him in hold, because it was not declared what was to be done with him. Richard Hooker, b. iii.

    The prisoner to his hold retir’d,
    His troop with equal emulation fir’d, Dryden.

    Rural recreations abroad, and books at home, are the innocent pleasures of a man who is early wise; and gives fortune no more hold of him than of necessity he must. Dryden.

    Fear is that passion which hath the greatest power over us, and by which God and his laws take the surest hold of us. John Tillotson.

    King Richard, he is in the mighty hold
    Of Bolinbroke. William Shakespeare, Richard II.

    Now a sea into the hold was got,
    Wave upon wave another sea had wrought. John Dryden, Juv.

    It was his policy to leave no hold behind him; but make all plain and waste. Edmund Spenser.

  4. To HOLDverb

    preter. held; part. pass. held or holden.

    Etymology: haldan, Gothick; haldan , Saxon; henden, Dutch.

    France, thou may’st hold a serpent by the tongue,
    A fasting tyger safer by the tooth,
    Than keep in peace that hand which thou do’st hold. William Shakespeare.

    Too late it was for satyrs to be told,
    Or ever hope recover her again;
    In vain he seeks, that having cannot hold. Fairy Queen.

    The loops held one curtain to another. Ex. xxxvi. 12.

    Prove all things: hold fast that which is good. 2 Thes. v.

    Men with assurance hold and profess, without ever having examined. John Locke.

    I as a stranger to my heart and me
    Hold thee from this for ever. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

    I hold him but a fool, that will endanger
    His body for a girl that loves him not. William Shakespeare.

    One amongst the fair’st of Greece,
    That holds his honour higher than his ease. William Shakespeare.

    This makes thee blessed peace so light to hold,
    Like Summer’s flies that fear not Winter’s cold. Edward Fairfax.

    Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in esteem. St. Paul.

    He would make us amends, and spend some time with us, if we held his company and conference agreeable. Francis Bacon.

    As he is the father of English poetry, so I hold him in the same degree of veneration as the Grecians held , or the Romans Virgil . John Dryden, Fables, Preface.

    Ye Latian dames, if any here
    Hold your unhappy queen Amata dear!
    The orgies and nocturnal rites prepare. John Dryden, Æn.

    The star bids the shepherd fold;
    Now the top of heav’n doth hold. John Milton.

    And now the strand, and now the plain they held;
    Their ardent eyes with bloody streaks were fill’d. Dryden.

    Observe the youth who first appears in sight,
    And holds the nearest station to the light. John Dryden, Æn.

    How pleasant and joyful a thing is it to have a light held us forth from heaven to guide our steps. George Cheyne, Phil. Princ.

    Holding Corioli in the name of Rome,
    Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash,
    To let him slip at will. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

    The castle, holden by a garrison of Germans, he commanded to be besieged. Richard Knolles, History of the Turks.

    Assuredly it is more shame for a man to lose that which he holdeth, than to fail in getting that which he never had. John Hayward.

    The duke was willing to yield himself unto Solyman as his vassal, and of him to hold his seigniory for a yearly tribute. Richard Knolles, History of the Turks.

    Death! what do’st? O hold thy blow!
    What thou do’st, thou do’st not know. Richard Crashaw.

    We cannot hold mortality’s strong hand. William Shakespeare, K. John.

    Fell, banning hag! inchantress, hold thy tongue. William Shakespeare.

    Men in the midst of their own blood, and so furiously assailed, held their hands, contrary to the laws of nature and necessity. Francis Bacon, War with Spain.

    When straight the people, by no force compell’d,
    Nor longer from their inclination held,
    Break forth at once. Edmund Waller.

    Unless thou find occasion, hold thy tongue;
    Thyself or others, careless talk may wrong. John Denham.

    Hold your laughter, and then divert your fellow-servants. Jonathan Swift, Directions to the Footman.

    His gracious promise you might,
    As cause had call’d you up, have held him to. William Shakespeare, Coriol.

    Stay but a little; for my cloud of dignity
    Is held from falling with so weak a wind,
    That it will quickly drop: my day is dim. William Shakespeare, Hen. IV.

    The most High then shewed signs for then, and held still the flood, ’till they were passed over. 2 Esdr. xiii. 14.

    Him God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Acts.

    These reasons mov’d her star-like husband’s heart;
    But still he held his purpose to depart. Dryden.

    The queen this day here holds her parliament,
    But little thinks we shall be of her council. William Shakespeare, H. VI.

    He held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. 1 Sa.

    Christianity came into the world with the greatest simplicity of thought and language, as well as life and manners, holding forth nothing but piety, charity, and humility, with the belief of the Messiah and of his kingdom. William Temple.

    My account is so far from interfering with Moses, that it holds forth a natural and unforced interpretation of his sense. John Woodward, Natural History.

    Her husband heard it, and held his peace. Numb. xxx. 7.

    She said, and held her peace: Æneas went,
    Unknowing whom the sacred sibyl meant. John Dryden, Æn.

    Some in their discourse desire rather commendation of wit, in being able to hold all arguments, than of judgment in discerning what is true. Francis Bacon, Essay 33.

    Whereupon they also made engines against their engines, and held them battle a long season. 1 Mac. vi. 52.

    The Pharisees went out, and held a counsel against him. Mat. xii. 14.

    He came to the land’s end, where he holding his course, in a narrow passage towards the West, for the space of divers days, did at length peaceably pass through the straits. George Abbot.

    Observe the connection of these ideas in the propositions, which those books hold forth and pretend to teach as truths. John Locke.

    I have lately sold my nag, and honestly told his greatest fault, which is, that he became such a lover of liberty that I could scarce hold him in. Jonathan Swift.

    These mens hastiness the warier sort of you doth not commend; ye wish they had held themselves longer in, and not so dangerously flown abroad. Richard Hooker, Preface.

    Although ’tis fit that Cassio have his place;
    Yet if you please to hold him off a while,
    You shall by that perceive him. William Shakespeare, Othello.

    The object of sight doth strike upon the pupil of the eye directly, without any interception; whereas the cave of the ear doth hold off the sound a little from the organ. Francis Bacon.

    I am the better acquainted with you for absence, as men are with themselves for affliction: absence does but hold off a friend, to make one see him truly. Alexander Pope, to Swift.

    They took Barbarossa, holding on his course to Africk, who brought great fear upon the country. Richard Knolles, Hist. of the Turks.

    If the obedience challenged were indeed due to these laws, then did our brethren both begin the quarrel and hold it on. Robert Sanderson, Judgment in one View.

    The king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. Esth. v. 2.

    Fortune holds out these to you, as rewards. Ben Jonson.

    He cannot long hold out these pangs,
    Th’ incessant care and labour of his mind. William Shakespeare, H. IV.

    I should remember him: does he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait? William Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor.

    The hand of the Almighty visibly held up, and prepared to take vengeance. John Locke.

    There is no man at once either excellently good or extremely evil, but grows either as he holds himself up in virtue, or lets himself slide to viciousness. Philip Sidney.

    It followeth, that all which they do in this sort proceedeth originally from some such agent as knoweth, appointeth, holdeth up, and actually frameth the same. Richard Hooker, b. i. s. 3.

    The time misorder’d doth in common sense
    Crowd us, and crush us to this monstrous form,
    To hold our safety up. William Shakespeare, Henry IV. p. ii.

    And so success of mischief shall be born,
    And heir from heir shall hold his quarrel up. William Shakespeare, H. IV.

    Those princes have held up their sovereignty best, which have been sparing in those grants. John Davies, on Ireland.

    We have often made one considerably thick piece of marble take and hold up another, having purposely caused their flat surfaces to be carefully ground and polished. Boyle.

    Then do not strike him dead with a denial,
    But hold him up in life, and cheer his soul
    With the faint glimmering of a doubtful hope. Joseph Addison, Cato.

  5. To Holdverb

    To say that simply an argument, taken from man’s authority, doth hold no way, neither affirmatively nor negatively, is hard. Richard Hooker, b. ii. s. 7.

    This holdeth not in the sea-coasts, because the vapour of the sea, without showers, doth refresh. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

    The lasting of plants is most in those that are largest of body; as oak, elm, and chestnut, and this holdeth in trees; but in herbs it is often contrary. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

    When the religion formerly received is rent by discords, and when the holiness of the professors of religion is decayed, and full of scandal, and withal the times be stupid, ignorant, and barbarous, you may doubt the springing up of a new sect; if then also there should arise any extravagant and strange spirit, to make himself author thereof; all which points held when Mahomet published his law. Francis Bacon, Essay 59.

    Nothing can be of greater use and defence to the mind than the discovering of these colours, shewing in what cases they hold, and in what they deceive. Francis Bacon.

    Where outward force constrains, the sentence holds;
    But who constrains me? John Milton.

    So doth he deal with the testimonies of the fathers, let them be never so express against all sorts of prayers and invocations: they hold only of such a sort of prayer. Edward Stillingfleet.

    The reasons given by them against the worship of images, will equally hold against the worship of images amongst Christians. Edward Stillingfleet, Def. of Disc. on Rom. Idol.

    None of his solutions will hold by mere mechanicks. More.

    This unseen agitation of the minute parts will hold in light and spirituous liquors. Boyle.

    It holds in all operative principles whatsoever, but especially in such as relate to morality; in which not to proceed, is certainly to go backward. Robert South, Sermons.

    The drift of this figure holds good in all the parts of the creation. Roger L'Estrange.

    The proverb holds, that to be wise and love,
    Is hardly granted to the gods above. John Dryden, Fables.

    As if th’ experiment were made to hold
    For base production, and reject the gold. Dryden.

    This remark, I must acknowledge, is not so proper for the colouring as the design; but it will hold for both. Dryden.

    Our author offers no reason; and when any body does, we shall see whether it will hold or no. John Locke.

    The rule holds in land as well as all other commodities. John Locke.

    This seems to hold in most cases. Joseph Addison, Spectator.

    The analogy holds good, and precisely keeps to the same properties in the planets and comets. George Cheyne.

    Sanctorius’s experiment of perspiration, being to the other secretion as five to three, does not hold in this country, except in the hottest time of Summer. John Arbuthnot, on Aliments.

    In words, as fashions, the same rule will hold;
    Alike fantastick, if too new or old. Alexander Pope, on Criticism.

    Our force by land hath nobly held. William Shakespeare.

    We see, by the peeling of onions, what a holding substance the skin is. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

    Never any man was yet so old,
    But hop’d his life one Winter more might hold. John Denham.

    He did not hold in this mind long. Roger L'Estrange.

    His dauntless heart would fain have held
    From weeping, but his eyes rebell’d. Dryden.

    Through envy of the devil came death into the world, and they that do hold of his side do find it. Wisd. ii. 24.

    They must, if they hold to their principles, agree that things had their production always as now they have. Matthew Hale.

    When Granada for your uncle held,
    You was by us restor’d, and he expell’d. Dryden.

    Numbers hold
    With the fair freckled king and beard of gold:
    So vig’rous are his eyes, such rays they cast,
    So prominent his eagle’s beak is plac’d. John Dryden, Fables.

    The other two were great princes, though holding of him; men of giant-like both hugeness and force. Philip Sidney, b. ii.

    The mother, if the house holds of our lady, had rather, yea and will, have her son cunning and bold, in making him to live trimly. Roger Ascham, Schoolmaster.

    The great barons had not only great numbers of knights, but even petty barons holding under them. William Temple.

    My crown is absolute, and holds of none. Dryden.

    ’Tis true, from force the noblest title springs;
    I therefore hold from that which first made kings. Dryden.

    A petty conjurer, telling fortunes, held forth in the marketplace. Roger L'Estrange, Fables.

    I am full of the fury of the Lord: I am weary with holding in. Jer. vi. 11.

    A duke, playing at hazard, held in a great many hands together. Jonathan Swift.

    These are interests important enough, and yet we must be wooed to consider them; nay, that does not prevail neither, but with a perverse coyness we hold off. Decay of Piety.

    The trade held on for many years after the bishops became Protestants; and some of their names are still remembered with infamy, on account of enriching their families by such sacrilegious alienations. Jonathan Swift.

    He held on, however, ’till he was upon the very point of breaking. Roger L'Estrange.

    Before those dews that form manna come upon trees in the valleys, they dissipate, and cannot hold out. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist.

    As there are mountebanks for the natural body, so are there mountebanks for the politick body; men that perhaps have been lucky in two or three experiments, but want the grounds of science, and therefore cannot hold out. Francis Bacon, Essays.

    Truth, fidelity, and justice, are a sure way of thriving, and will hold out, when all fraudulent arts and devices will fail. John Tillotson, Sermons.

    By an extremely exact regimen a consumptive person may hold out for years, if the symptoms are not violent. Arbuthnot.

    The great master, leaving a sufficient number of soldiers for the keeping of that fort, went with the rest of his company to a place where the Spaniards, fore charged by Achimetes, had much ado to hold out. Richard Knolles, History of the Turks.

    You think it strange a person, obsequious to those he loves, should hold out so long against importunity. Boyle.

    Nor could the hardest ir’n hold out
    Against his blows. Hudibras.

    I would cry now, my eyes grow womanish;
    But yet my heart holds out. John Dryden, Spanish Fryar.

    The citadel of Milan has held out formerly, after the conquest of the rest of the dutchy. Joseph Addison, on Italy.

    As to the holding out against so many alterations of state, it sometimes proceeds from principles. Jeremy Collier, on Pride.

    Pronounce your thoughts: are they still fixt
    To hold it out, and fight it to the last?
    Or are your hearts subdu’d at length, and wrought
    By time and ill success to a submission? Joseph Addison, Cato.

    Those old Gothick castles, made at several times, hold together only, as it were, by rags and patches. John Dryden, Dufresnoy.

    Even outlaws and robbers, who break with all the world besides, must keep faith amongst themselves, or else they cannot hold together. John Locke.

    All the wise sayings and advices which philosophers could muster up to this purpose, have helped only to support some few stout and obstinate minds, which, without the assistance of philosophy, could have held up pretty well of themselves. John Tillotson, Sermon 5.

    Though nice and dark the point appear,
    Quoth Ralph, it may hold up and clear. Hudibras, p. ii.

    When two start into the world together, the success of the first seems to press upon the reputation of the latter; for why could not he hold up? Jeremy Collier, of Envy.

ChatGPT

  1. hold

    Hold can have several meanings depending on the context, but in general, it refers to the action of grasping or keeping something or someone in one's possession or control. It can also denote the act of maintaining a specific position or posture, or the act of keeping something in a particular state or condition for a period of time. Furthermore, it can refer to organizing or hosting an event, or the act of reserving or booking something in advance.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Holdnoun

    the whole interior portion of a vessel below the lower deck, in which the cargo is stowed

  2. Holdverb

    to cause to remain in a given situation, position, or relation, within certain limits, or the like; to prevent from falling or escaping; to sustain; to restrain; to keep in the grasp; to retain

  3. Holdverb

    to retain in one's keeping; to maintain possession of, or authority over; not to give up or relinquish; to keep; to defend

  4. Holdverb

    to have; to possess; to be in possession of; to occupy; to derive title to; as, to hold office

  5. Holdverb

    to impose restraint upon; to limit in motion or action; to bind legally or morally; to confine; to restrain

  6. Holdverb

    to maintain in being or action; to carry on; to prosecute, as a course of conduct or an argument; to continue; to sustain

  7. Holdverb

    to prosecute, have, take, or join in, as something which is the result of united action; as to, hold a meeting, a festival, a session, etc.; hence, to direct and bring about officially; to conduct or preside at; as, the general held a council of war; a judge holds a court; a clergyman holds a service

  8. Holdverb

    to receive and retain; to contain as a vessel; as, this pail holds milk; hence, to be able to receive and retain; to have capacity or containing power for

  9. Holdverb

    to accept, as an opinion; to be the adherent of, openly or privately; to persist in, as a purpose; to maintain; to sustain

  10. Holdverb

    to consider; to regard; to esteem; to account; to think; to judge

  11. Holdverb

    to bear, carry, or manage; as he holds himself erect; he holds his head high

  12. Hold

    in general, to keep one's self in a given position or condition; to remain fixed. Hence:

  13. Hold

    not to more; to halt; to stop;-mostly in the imperative

  14. Hold

    not to give way; not to part or become separated; to remain unbroken or unsubdued

  15. Hold

    not to fail or be found wanting; to continue; to last; to endure a test or trial; to abide; to persist

  16. Hold

    not to fall away, desert, or prove recreant; to remain attached; to cleave;-often with with, to, or for

  17. Hold

    to restrain one's self; to refrain

  18. Hold

    to derive right or title; -- generally with of

  19. Holdnoun

    the act of holding, as in or with the hands or arms; the manner of holding, whether firm or loose; seizure; grasp; clasp; gripe; possession; -- often used with the verbs take and lay

  20. Holdnoun

    the authority or ground to take or keep; claim

  21. Holdnoun

    binding power and influence

  22. Holdnoun

    something that may be grasped; means of support

  23. Holdnoun

    a place of confinement; a prison; confinement; custody; guard

  24. Holdnoun

    a place of security; a fortified place; a fort; a castle; -- often called a stronghold

  25. Holdnoun

    a character [thus /] placed over or under a note or rest, and indicating that it is to be prolonged; -- called also pause, and corona

  26. Etymology: [OE. haldan, D. houden, OHG. hoten, Icel. halda, Dan. holde, Sw. hlla, Goth. haldan to feed, tend (the cattle); of unknown origin. Gf. Avast, Halt, Hod.]

Wikidata

  1. Hold

    A hold is awarded to a relief pitcher who meets the following three conditions: Note that since the hold is not an official Major League Baseball statistic, the definition above can vary. One noticeable difference is that while STATS, Inc. requires the pitcher to record at least one out for a hold, SportsTicker does not have this requirement. This can result in discrepancies in hold totals between different sources.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Hold

    hōld, v.t. to keep possession of or authority over: to sustain: to defend: to maintain, support: to occupy: to derive title to: to bind: to confine: to restrain: to stop, as in 'to cry hold:' to continue: to persist in: to contain: to celebrate: to esteem: (Shak.) to endure: (arch.) to bet.—v.i. to remain fixed: to be true or unfailing: to continue unbroken or unsubdued: to adhere: to derive right:—pr.p. hōld′ing; pa.t. held; pa.p. held (obs. hōld′en).n. act or manner of holding: seizure: power of seizing: something for support: a place of confinement: custody: a fortified place: (mus.) a mark over a rest or note, indicating that it is to be prolonged.—ns. Hold′-all, a general receptacle, esp. a big carpet-bag; Hold′-back, a check: a strap joining the breeching to the shaft of a vehicle; Hold′-beam, one of the beams crossing a ship's hold and strengthening the framework.—Hold′en (B.), old pa.p. of hold.—ns. Hold′er; Hold′-fast, that which holds fast: a long nail: a catch; Hold′ing, anything held: a farm held of a superior: hold: influence: (Scots law) tenure.—Hold forth, to put forward: show: to speak in public, to declaim; Hold hard! stop! Hold in, to restrain, check: to restrain one's self; Hold of (Pr. Bk.), to regard; Hold off, to keep at a distance; Hold on, to persist in something: to continue: to cling; Hold one in hand, to amuse in order to gain some advantage; Hold one's own, to maintain one's position; Hold one's peace, Hold one's tongue, to keep silence; Hold out, to endure, last; Hold over, to postpone, to keep possession of land or a house beyond the term of agreement; Hold the market (see Market); Hold together, to remain united: to cohere; Hold up, to raise: to continue to go at the same rate; Hold water, to be sound and firm, to endure trial; Hold with, to take sides with. [A.S. healdan; Old High Ger. haltan, Goth. haldan.]

  2. Hold

    hōld, n. the interior cavity of a ship between the floor and the lower deck, used for the cargo. [Dut. hol, a cavity or hole, with excrescent d.]

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

  1. hold

    1. A cargo stowage compartment aboard ship. 2. To maintain or retain possession of by force, as a position or an area. 3. In an attack, to exert sufficient pressure to prevent movement or redisposition of enemy forces. 4. As applied to air traffic, to keep an aircraft within a specified space or location which is identified by visual or other means in accordance with Air Traffic Control instructions. See also fix.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. hold

    The whole interior cavity of a ship, or all that part comprehended between the floor and the lower deck throughout her length.--The after-hold lies abaft the main-mast, and is usually set apart for the provisions in ships of war.--The fore-hold is situated about the fore-hatchway, in continuation with the main-hold, and serves the same purposes.--The main-hold is just before the main-mast, and generally contains the fresh water and beer for the use of the ship's company.--To rummage the hold is to examine its contents.--To stow the hold is to arrange its contents in the most secure and commodious manner possible.--To trim the hold (see TRIM OF THE HOLD). Also, an Anglo-Saxon term for a fort, castle, or stronghold.--Hold is also generally understood of a ship with regard to the land or to another ship; hence we say, "Keep a good hold of the land," or "Keep the land well aboard," which are synonymous phrases, implying to keep near the land; when applied to a ship, we say, "She holds her own;" i.e. goes as fast as the other ship; holds her wind, or way.--To hold. To assemble for public business; as, to hold a court-martial, a survey, &c.--Hold! An authoritative way of separating combatants, according to the old military laws at tournaments, &c.; stand fast!

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. hold

    A place of security; a fortified place; a fort; a castle; often called a stronghold.

  2. hold

    To keep one’s self in a given position or condition; to remain fixed; as, not to move; to halt; to stop. Not to give way; not to part or become separated; to remain unbroken. To hold one’s own, to keep up; not to lose ground or be left behind.

Editors Contribution

  1. holdverb

    To bear, carry, or manage.

    My cat Blaze doesn't like being held up.


    Submitted by zakaria1409 on August 11, 2022  

Suggested Resources

  1. HOLD

    What does HOLD stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the HOLD acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. HOLD

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hold is ranked #48628 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Hold surname appeared 434 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Hold.

    88.7% or 385 total occurrences were White.
    4.6% or 20 total occurrences were Black.
    4.3% or 19 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    1.1% or 5 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Hold' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #997

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Hold' in Written Corpus Frequency: #754

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Hold' in Nouns Frequency: #1364

  4. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Hold' in Verbs Frequency: #41

How to pronounce Hold?

How to say Hold in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Hold in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Hold in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of Hold in a Sentence

  1. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio:

    We will not use the national security waiver to hold back U.S. sanctions against Iran -- especially not as a result of this flawed deal that he is pursuing.

  2. Jerald Podair:

    From the time of the Southern plantation owners, there have been a small group of people in the South who hold the power economically and they don't really distribute the wealth that's created in a democratic way.

  3. Ilian Scarlatov:

    Chinese are here not because we made an effort, but because they have a long-term strategic thinking and see value in the geopolitical situation of Bulgaria and the region, they would like to see feasible, large-scale business projects that can be started within 6 to 12 months and which do not hold political or administrative risk.

  4. Chief Justice John Roberts:

    It is not about whether, in my judgment, the institution of marriage should be changed to include same-sex couples, it is instead about whether, in our democratic republic, that decision should rest with the people acting through their elected representatives, or with five lawyers who happen to hold commissions authorizing them to resolve legal disputes under the law.

  5. Manush Albert Alben:

    There's no money, no groceries, we are suffering but trying to hold on.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Hold#1#1275#10000

Translations for Hold

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"Hold." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Hold>.

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