take hold of

transitive verb held, holding

1. to take and keep with the hands or arms, or by other means; grasp; clutch; seize
2. ☆ to keep from going away; not let escape: to hold a prisoner, hold the train
3. to keep in a certain place or position, or in a specified condition: to hold one's head up
4. 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)
5. 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
6. to keep against an enemy; guard; defend: hold the fort
7. 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
8. to call together or preside over: to hold court
9. to have or keep within itself; have room or space for; contain: a bottle that holds a quart
10. to have or keep in the mind
11. to have an opinion or belief about; regard; consider: to hold a statement to be untrue
12. Law
    1. to decide; adjudge; decree
    2. to bind by contract
    3. to possess by legal title: to hold a mortgage
13. Music to prolong (a tone or rest)

intransitive verb

1. to retain a hold, a firm contact, etc.: hold tight
2. to go on being firm, loyal, etc.: to hold to a resolution
3. to remain unbroken or unyielding; not give way: the rope held
4. to have right or title: usually with from or of
5. to be in effect or in force; be true or valid: a rule that holds in any case
6. 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?
7. Archaic to go no further; stop oneself; halt: usually in the imperative

noun

1. the act or manner of grasping or seizing; grip; specif., a way of gripping an opponent in wrestling
2. a thing to hold or hold on by
3. a thing for holding or containing something else
4. 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
5. a means of confinement; prison
6. a temporary halt or delay, as to make repairs, or an order to make such a halt
7. an order reserving something
8. Obsolete a stronghold
9. Obsolete the act or fact of guarding, possessing, etc.
10. Music pause (sense )