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hold

hold¹ definition

hold (hōld)

transitive verb held, holding hold′·ing

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)

Etymology: 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 )

hold Idioms

catch hold of

to take; seize; grasp

get hold of

to take; seize; grasp
to acquire

hold back

to restrain
to refrain
to retain

hold down

to keep down or under control; restrain
☆ Informal to have and keep (a job)
to limit; restrict the rain held down attendance at the game

hold forth

Etymology: cf. Phil. 2:16

to speak at some length; preach; lecture
Now Rare to offer; propose

hold in

to keep in or back
to control oneself or one's impulses

hold off

to keep away or at a distance
to keep from attacking or doing something
to delay action on a matter, as in awaiting additional information

hold on

to retain one's hold
to continue; persist
Informal stop!wait!

hold one's own

to maintain one's place or condition in spite of obstacles or reverses

hold out

to last; endure; continue
to continue resistance; stand firm; not yield
to offer
☆ Informal to fail or refuse to give (what is to be given)

hold out for

Informal to stand firm in demanding

hold over

to postpone consideration of or action on
to keep or stay for an additional period or term
☆ to keep as a threat or advantage over

hold up

to keep from falling; prop up
to show; exhibit
to last; endure; continue
to stop; delay; impede
☆ to stop forcibly and rob
☆ Informal to overcharge

hold with

to agree or side with
to approve of

lay hold of

or take hold of

to take; seize; grasp
to get control or possession of

no holds barred

Informal with no set rules or limits

on hold

in a period or state of interruption or delay the countdown was on hold
in a state of interruption in a telephone call, as during a transfer to another line I was on hold for five minutes

hold² definition

hold (hōld)

noun