Etymology: (1585–95; var. of hole ; cf. D hol hole, hold)
Definition of 'hold'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (noun)clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold 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"
3. (noun)hold power by which something or someone is affected or dominated "he has a hold over them"
4. (noun)delay, hold, time lag, postponement, wait time during which some action is awaited "instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action"
5. (noun)detention, detainment, hold, custody 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"
8. (noun)handle, grip, handgrip, hold 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. (verb)cargo area, cargo deck, cargo hold, hold, storage area the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo
10. (verb)keep, maintain, hold 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. (verb)hold, take hold have or hold in one's hands or grip "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of him"
12. (verb)hold, throw, have, make, give organize or be responsible for "hold a reception"; "have, throw, or make a party"; "give a course"
13. (verb)have, have got, hold have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstractsense "She has $1,000 in the bank"; "He has got two beautiful daughters"; "She holds a Master's degree from Harvard"
14. (verb)deem, hold, view as, take for 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. (verb)harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurse maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings) "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment"
16. (verb)restrain, confine, hold to close within bounds, limit or holdback 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. (verb)retain, hold, keep back, hold back secure and keep for possiblefuture use or application "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"
18. (verb)bear, hold have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices "She bears the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a decade"
19. (verb)hold, support, sustain, hold up 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. (verb)hold, bear, carry, contain contain or hold; have within "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water"
21. (verb)accommodate, hold, admit haveroom 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. (verb)hold remain in a certain state, position, or condition "The weather held"; "They held on the road and kept marching"
23. (verb)hold, carry, bear support or hold in a certain manner "She holds her head high"; "He carried himself upright"
24. (verb)prevail, hold, obtain be valid, applicable, or true "This theory still holds"
25. (verb)hold assert or affirm "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good"
26. (verb)hold have as a majorcharacteristic "The novel holds many surprises"; "The book holds in store much valuable advise"
27. (verb)contain, take, hold be capable of holding or containing "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon"
28. (verb)reserve, hold, book 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. (verb)defend, guard, hold protect against a challenge or attack "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"
30. (verb)oblige, bind, hold, obligate bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted "He's held by a contract"; "I'll hold you by your promise"
31. (verb)hold hold the attention of "The soprano held the audience"; "This story held our interest"; "She can hold an audience spellbound"
32. (verb)hold remain committed to "I hold to these ideas"
33. (verb)defy, withstand, hold, hold up resist or confront with resistance "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held"
34. (verb)apply, hold, go for 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. (verb)hold stopdealing with "hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting"
36. (verb)control, hold in, hold, contain, check, curb, moderate 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. (verb)hold keep from departing "Hold the taxi"; "Hold the horse"
38. (verb)hold take and maintain control over, often by violent means "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week"
39. (verb)halt, hold, arrest cause to stop "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses"
40. (verb)hold cover as for protection against noise or smell "She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate"; "hold one's nose"
41. (verb)carry, hold drinkalcohol without showing ill effects "He can hold his liquor"; "he had drunk more than he could carry"
42. (verb)hold aim, point, or direct "Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames"
43. (verb)declare, adjudge, hold declare to be "She was declared incompetent"; "judge held that the defendant was innocent"
44. (verb)agree, hold, concur, concord 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. (verb)hold keep from exhaling or expelling "hold your breath"
1. (verb)hold to gripcarry sth in your hands or arms You're holding the book upside down.; She held the baby in her arms.
2. hold to keep in a position Hold your picture up.; The stitches hold the wound together until it heals.
3. hold hold sth in place to keep sth from moving The Velcro holds this piece in place.
4. hold to embrace sb The lovers held each other tightly.
5. hold to contain Each barrel can hold 50 liters of liquid.
6. hold to keep in prison; = detain Police are holding him for questioning; The rebels held him captive for 3 months.
7. hold hold sb captive/prisoner/hostage to organize and invitepeople to an event to hold talks/a conference; Interviews will be held next week.
8. hold to have or keep a job, official position, or status to hold a British passport; party members who are not allowed to hold office
9. hold hold office to remain constant Do you think this good weather will hold all day?
10. hold to keep control or possession of sth in a competition, battle, etc. Rebels hold the southern area.; He's held the boxing title for five years.
11. hold to have a particular quality, feeling, or idea She holds the view that all children are good.
12. hold to keep or contain information Data will be held for a period of 12 months.
13. hold to support without breaking Tie the rope tight or it won't hold.; That old chair will never hold his weight.
14. hold to wait while the person you are calling comes to the telephone Can you hold the line please?; Please hold while I connect you.
15. hold hold it indicates you want sb to wait or stop Hold it! This isn't working.
16. hold hold your breath to not breathe divers who can hold their breath for up to two minutes
17. hold hold your own to be as good at doing sth as other people She can hold her own against anyone in the swimming pool.
18. hold keep hold (of) to not let go of Keep hold of my hand.
19. hold get hold of to manage to obtain It's impossible to get hold of tickets for the concert.
20. hold to manage to contact I've been trying to get hold of him all morning.
21. hold keep hold of to not lose Keep hold of all the tax documents.
22. hold on hold stopped until later Our plans for the summer are on hold for now.
2. (noun)hold 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
15. hold to derive right or title; -- generally with of
16. (verb)hold 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
17. (verb)hold to retain in one's keeping; to maintain possession of, or authority over; not to give up or relinquish; to keep; to defend
18. (verb)hold to have; to possess; to be in possession of; to occupy; to derive title to; as, to holdoffice
19. (verb)hold to impose restraint upon; to limit in motion or action; to bind legally or morally; to confine; to restrain
20. (verb)hold to maintain in being or action; to carry on; to prosecute, as a course of conduct or an argument; to continue; to sustain
21. (verb)hold 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
22. (verb)hold 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
23. (verb)hold to accept, as an opinion; to be the adherent of, openly or privately; to persist in, as a purpose; to maintain; to sustain
24. (verb)hold to consider; to regard; to esteem; to account; to think; to judge
25. (verb)hold to bear, carry, or manage; as he holds himself erect; he holds his head high
Definition of 'hold'
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.
Sense: to have in one's hand(s) or between one's hands He was holding a knife; Hold that dish with both hands; He held the little boy's hand; He held the mouse by its tail.