- to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp: She held the purse in her right hand.He held the child's hand in his.
- to set aside; reserve or retain: to hold merchandise until called for;to hold a reservation.
- to bear, sustain, or support, as with the hands or arms, or by any other means.
- to keep in a specified state, relation, etc.: The preacher held them spellbound.
- to detain: The police held him at the station house.
- to engage in; preside over; carry on: to hold a meeting.
- to keep back from action; hinder; restrain: Fear held him from acting.
- to have the ownership or use of; keep as one's own; occupy: to hold political office.
- to contain or be capable of containing: This bottle holds a quart.
- to bind or make accountable to an obligation: We will hold you to your promise to pay back the money.
- to have or keep in the mind; think or believe: We hold this belief.
- to regard or consider: to hold a person responsible.
- to decide legally.
- to consider of a certain value; rate: We held her best of all the applicants.
- to keep forcibly, as against an adversary: Enemy forces held the hill.
- to point, aim, or direct: He held a gun on the prisoner.The firefighter held a hose on the blaze.
- to sustain (a note, chord, or rest).
- to omit from the usual order or combination: Give me a burger well-done—hold the pickle.
- to remain or continue in a specified state, relation, etc.: Hold still while I take your picture.
- to remain fast; adhere; cling: The buttonhole stitching is so frayed that the button no longer holds.
- to keep or maintain a grasp on something.
- to maintain one's position against opposition; continue in resistance.
- to agree or side (usually followed by with): to hold with new methods.
- to keep a telephone connection open; refrain from hanging up (often followed by on): The customer service rep asked me to hold while she checked my account balance.Hold on, I’ve got another incoming call.
- to hold property by some tenure; derive title (usually followed by by, from, in, or of).
- to remain attached, faithful, or steadfast (usually followed by to): to hold to one's purpose.
- to remain valid; be in force: The rule does not hold.
- to refrain or forbear (usually used imperatively).
- an act of holding fast by a grasp of the hand or by some other physical means; grasp; grip: Take hold.Do you have a hold on the rope?
- something to hold a thing by, as a handle; something to grasp, especially for support.
- something that holds fast or supports something else.
- an order reserving something: to put a hold on a library book.
- a security purchased or recommended for long-term growth.
- a controlling force or dominating influence: to have a hold on a person.
- a method of seizing an opponent and keeping him in control: a toe hold.
- fermata.
- a pause or delay, as in a continuing series: a hold in the movements of a dance.
- a prison or prison cell.
- a receptacle for something: a basket used as a hold for letters.
- a halt in the prelaunch countdown, either planned or unexpectedly called, to allow correction of one or more faults in the rocket or missile.
- a fortified place; stronghold.
- (on telephones with two or more lines) a feature that enables a person to maintain a connection on one line while answering another line.
- hold back,
- to restrain or check: Police held back the crowd.
- to retain possession of; keep back: He held back ten dollars.
- to refrain from revealing; withhold: to hold back information.
- to refrain from participating or engaging in some activity: He held back from joining in the singing because he felt depressed.
- dodge (def. 2).
- hold down,
- to restrain; check: Hold down that noise!
- to continue to hold and manage well: She held down that job for years.
- hold forth,
- to extend or offer; propose.
- to talk at great length; harangue: When we left, he was still holding forth on World War II.
- hold in,
- to restrain; check; curb.
- to contain oneself; exercise restraint: He was raging inside, but held himself in for fear of saying something he would regret.
- hold off,
- to keep at a distance; resist; repel.
- to postpone action; defer: If you hold off applying for a passport, you may not get one in time.
- hold on,
- to keep a firm grip on.
- to keep going; continue.
- to maintain, as one's opinion or position.
- to stop; halt (usually used imperatively): Hold on now! That isn't what I meant at all.
- hold1 (def. 24).
- hold out,
- to present; offer.
- to stretch forth; extend: Hold out your hand.
- to continue to exist; last: Will the food hold out?
- to refuse to yield or submit: The defenders held out for weeks.
- to withhold something expected or due: He was suspected of holding out information important to the case.
- hold over,
- to keep for future consideration or action; postpone.
- to remain in possession or in office beyond the regular term.
- to remain beyond the arranged period: The movie was held over for a week.
- to prolong (a tone) from one measure to the next.
- hold up,
- to offer; give: She held up his father as an example to follow.
- to present to notice; expose: to hold someone up to ridicule.
- to hinder; delay: The plane's departure was held up because of the storm.
- to stop by force in order to rob.
- to support; uphold: to hold up farm prices.
- to stop; halt: They held up at the gate.
- to maintain one's position or condition; endure: They held up through all their troubles.
- hold with,
- to be in agreement with; concur with: I don't hold with his pessimistic views.
- to approve of; condone: They won't hold with such a travesty of justice.
- get hold of,
- to get a hold on: Get hold of the railing.
- to communicate with, especially by telephone: If she's not at home, try to get hold of her at the office.
- own (def. 11).
- peace (def. 14).
- tongue (def. 33).
- water (def. 34).
- without limits, rules, or restraints.
- on hold,
- in or into a state of temporary interruption or suspension: The project will be put on hold until funds become available.
- in or into a state of temporary interruption in a telephone connection: I'm putting you on hold to answer another call.
- Nautical.
- the entire cargo space in the hull of a vessel.
- the cargo space in the hull of a vessel between the lowermost deck and the bottom.
- any individual compartment of such cargo spaces, closed by bulkheads and having its own hatchway.
- the cargo compartment of an aircraft.
- to have or keep (an object) with or within the hands, arms, etc; clasp
- to support or bear
- to maintain or be maintained in a specified state or condition
- to set aside or reserve
- to restrain or be restrained from motion, action, departure, etc
- to remain fast or unbroken
- (of the weather) to remain dry and bright
- to keep the attention of
- to engage in or carry on
- to have the ownership, possession, etc, of
- to have the use of or responsibility for
- to have the space or capacity for
- to be able to control the outward effects of drinking beer, spirits, etc
- to remain or cause to remain committed to
- to claim
- to remain relevant, valid, or true
- to keep in the mind
- to regard or consider in a specified manner
- to guard or defend successfully
- to continue to go
- to sustain the sound of (a note) throughout its specified duration
- to retain (data) in a storage device after copying onto another storage device or onto another location in the same device
- to be in possession of illegal drugs
- to apply or be relevant to
- holding the thumb of one hand with the other, in the hope of bringing good luck
- hold it!
- stop! wait!
- stay in the same position! as when being photographed
- to conduct oneself in a proud and confident manner
- to maintain one's situation or position esp in spite of opposition or difficulty
- to keep silent
- to prove credible, logical, or consistent
- he is so spirited or resolute that he cannot be restrained
- the act or method of holding fast or grasping, as with the hands
- something to hold onto, as for support or control
- an object or device that holds fast or grips something else so as to hold it fast
- controlling force or influence
- a short delay or pause
- a prison or a cell in a prison
- a way of seizing one's opponent
- a pause or fermata
- a tenure or holding, esp of land
- (in combination)
- a container
- a fortified place
- get hold of
- to obtain
- to come into contact with
- all limitations removed
- in a state of temporary postponement or delay
- the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo