Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » holding pattern

holding pattern

  1. the course an airplane takes while circling an airport waiting for clearance to land
  2. any period or state in which progress is interrupted or delayed

See holding pattern in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A usually circular pattern flown by aircraft awaiting clearance to land at an airport.
  2. Informal A state of waiting or delay; a static situation: environmental groups that wish to put oil exploration into a holding pattern.
link/cite print suggestion box