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hold

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The definition of hold is to carry, to keep in position, to hug someone, to stay in close contact, to bear someone's weight, or to keep in position.

(verb)

When you have a coffee in your hand, this is an example of when you hold the coffee.
When you stay steady on course in your boat despite rough waters, this is an example of when you hold your position.
When you hug your child in your arms, this is an example of when you hold your child.
When your car stays close to the road, this is an example of when you hold the road.
When you sit on a chair and it does not break under your weight, this is an example of when the chair holds your weight.
When you keep a job, this is an example of when you hold down a job.

A hold is defined as a method of grabbing on or staying in position, or is something that can be used to grab on, or a degree of power or influence.

(noun)

When you grab a person's hand, this is an example of when you grab hold of his hand.
When a handle allows you to pick up a box, this is an example of a hold.
When you have the power to stop someone from acting, this is an example of when you have a hold on that person.

See hold in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb held, holding

to take and keep with the hands or arms, or by other means; grasp; clutch; seize
☆ to keep from going away; not let escape: to hold a prisoner, hold the train
to keep in a certain place or position, or in a specified condition: to hold one's head up
to restrain or control; specif.,
1. to keep from falling; bear the weight of; support: pillars holding the roof
2. to keep from acting; keep back: hold your tongue
3. to keep from advancing or attacking
4. to keep from getting an advantage
5. to get and keep control of; keep from relaxing: to hold someone's attention
6. to continue; maintain: to hold a course
7. to sustain or satisfy for the time being: a muffin should hold you until supper time
8. ☆ to keep (a letter, etc.) for delivery later
9. to keep (a room, etc.) for use later
10. to keep under obligation; bind: hold him to his word
11. to resist the effects of (alcoholic liquor)
to have and keep as one's own; have the duties, privileges, etc. of; own; possess; occupy: to hold shares of stock, to hold the office of mayor
to keep against an enemy; guard; defend: hold the fort
to have or conduct together; specif.,
1. to carry on (a meeting, conversation, etc.)
2. to perform (a function, service, etc.): to hold classes in the morning
to call together or preside over: to hold court
to have or keep within itself; have room or space for; contain: a bottle that holds a quart
to have or keep in the mind
to have an opinion or belief about; regard; consider: to hold a statement to be untrue
Law
1. to decide; adjudge; decree
2. to bind by contract
3. to possess by legal title: to hold a mortgage
Music to prolong (a tone or rest)

Origin: ME holden < Anglian OE haldan (WS healdan), akin to Ger halten, Goth haldan, to tend sheep < IE base *kel-, to drive, incite to action > Gr kelēs, swift horse, L celer, swift: prob. sense development: drive (cattle, etc.)—tend—possess

intransitive verb

to retain a hold, a firm contact, etc.: hold tight
to go on being firm, loyal, etc.: to hold to a resolution
to remain unbroken or unyielding; not give way: the rope held
to have right or title: usually with from or of
to be in effect or in force; be true or valid: a rule that holds in any case
to keep up; continue [the wind held from the north]; specif.,
1. to remain in the air, waiting to land: a plane held over Boston
2. to remain on a telephone line: that line is busy — will you hold?
Archaic to go no further; stop oneself; halt: usually in the imperative

noun

the act or manner of grasping or seizing; grip; specif., a way of gripping an opponent in wrestling
a thing to hold or hold on by
a thing for holding or containing something else
1. a controlling or dominating force; restraining authority: to have a firm hold over someone
2. a being aware or in control: to lose one's hold on life
a means of confinement; prison
a temporary halt or delay, as to make repairs, or an order to make such a halt
an order reserving something
Obsolete a stronghold
Obsolete the act or fact of guarding, possessing, etc.
Music pause (sense )

noun

the interior of a ship below decks, esp. below the lower deck, in which the cargo is carried
the compartment for cargo in an aircraft

Origin: altered (after hold) < hole or < MDu hol, a hole, cave, ship's hold

See hold in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb held held (hĕld), hold·ing, holds

verb, transitive

a. To have and keep in one's grasp: held the reins tightly.
b. To aim or direct; point: held a hose on the fire.
c. 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 staples.
d. To sustain the pressure of: The old bridge can't hold much weight.
a. To keep from departing or getting away: Hold the bus! Hold the dog until I find the leash.
b. To keep in custody: held the suspect for questioning.
c. To retain (one's attention or interest): Televised sports can't hold my interest.
d. To avoid letting out or expelling: The swimmer held her breath while underwater.
a. To be filled by; contain.
b. To be capable of holding. See Synonyms at contain.
c. To have as a chief characteristic or quality: The film holds many surprises.
d. To have in store: Let's see what the future holds.
a. To have and maintain in one's possession: holds a great deal of property.
b. To have as a responsible position or a privilege: held the governorship for six years.
c. To have in recognition of achievement or superiority: holds the record for the one-mile race; holds the respect of her peers.
a. To maintain control over: Thieves held the stolen painting for ransom.
b. To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Protesters held the embassy for a week.
c. To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example).
d. To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound.
a. To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
b. To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses!
c. To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Hold the relish on that hamburger.
d. To defer the immediate handling of: The receptionist held all calls during the meeting.
a. To be the legal possessor of.
b. To bind by a contract.
c. To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
d. To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
a. To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
b. To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
c. To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
a. To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
b. To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
a. 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.
b. To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.

verb, intransitive

a. To maintain a grasp or grip on something.
b. To stay securely fastened: The chain held.
a. To maintain a desired or accustomed position or condition: hopes the weather will hold.
b. To withstand stress, pressure, or opposition: The defense held. We held firm on the negotiations.
To continue in the same direction: The ship held to an easterly course.
To be valid, applicable, or true: The observation still holds in cases like this.
To have legal right or title. Often used with of or from.
To halt an intended action. Often used in the imperative.
To stop the countdown during a missile or spacecraft launch.
Slang To have in one's possession illicit or illegally obtained material or goods, especially narcotics: The suspect was holding.

noun

a. The act or a means of grasping.
b. 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 control or adjustor on a television that keeps the screen image in proper position: adjusted the horizontal hold.
A telephone service that allows one to temporarily interrupt a call without severing the connection.
a. A bond or force that attaches or restrains, or by which something is affected or dominated: a writer with a strong hold on her readership.
b. Complete control: has a firm hold on the complex issues.
c. Full understanding: has a good hold on physics.
Music
a. The sustaining of a note longer than its indicated time value.
b. The symbol designating this pause; a fermata.
a. A direction or indication that something is to be reserved or deferred.
b. A temporary halt, as in a countdown.
a. A prison cell.
b. The state of being in confinement; custody.
Archaic A fortified place; a stronghold.

Phrasal Verbs: hold back To retain in one's possession or control: held back valuable information; held back my tears. To impede the progress of. To restrain oneself. hold down To limit: Please hold the noise down. To fulfill the duties of (a job): holds down two jobs. hold forth To talk at great length. hold off 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. hold on 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. hold out 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. hold over

a. To postpone or delay.

b. 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. hold to To remain loyal or faithful to: She held to her resolutions. hold up 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 stress. hold with To agree with; support: I don't hold with your theories.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English holden

Origin: , from Old English healdan

noun

The lower interior part of a ship or airplane where cargo is stored.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration (influenced by hold¹)

Origin: of Middle English hole, husk, hull of a ship

Origin: , from Old English hulu; see kel-¹ in Indo-European roots

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hold synonyms

hold computer definition