hold

1. 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.

2. to set aside; reserve or retain:

   to hold merchandise until called for;

   to hold a reservation.

3. to bear, sustain, or support, as with the hands or arms, or by any other means.
4. to keep in a specified state, relation, etc.:

   The preacher held them spellbound.

5. to detain:

   The police held him at the station house.

6. to engage in; preside over; carry on:

   to hold a meeting.

7. to keep back from action; hinder; restrain:

   Fear held him from acting.

8. to have the ownership or use of; keep as one's own; occupy:

   to hold political office.

   Synonyms: own, possess

9. to contain or be capable of containing:

   This bottle holds a quart.

10. to bind or make accountable to an obligation:

    We will hold you to your promise to pay back the money.

11. to have or keep in the mind; think or believe:

    We hold this belief.

    Synonyms: have, espouse, embrace

12. to regard or consider:

    to hold a person responsible.

    Synonyms: judge, esteem, deem

13. to decide legally.
14. to consider of a certain value; rate:

    We held her best of all the applicants.

15. to keep forcibly, as against an adversary:

    Enemy forces held the hill.

16. to point, aim, or direct:

    He held a gun on the prisoner.

    The firefighter held a hose on the blaze.

17. Music. to sustain (a note, chord, or rest).
18. to omit from the usual order or combination:

    Give me a burger well-done—hold the pickle.

1. to remain or continue in a specified state, relation, etc.:

   Hold still while I take your picture.

   Synonyms: endure, last, persist

2. to remain fast; adhere; cling:

   The buttonhole stitching is so frayed that the button no longer holds.

   Synonyms: stick

3. to keep or maintain a grasp on something.
4. to maintain one's position against opposition; continue in resistance.
5. to agree or side (usually followed by with ):

   to hold with new methods.

6. 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.

7. to hold property by some tenure; derive title (usually followed by by, from, in, or of ).
8. to remain attached, faithful, or steadfast (usually followed by to ):

   to hold to one's purpose.

9. to remain valid; be in force:

   The rule does not hold.

10. to refrain or forbear (usually used imperatively).

1. 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?

2. something to hold a thing by, as a handle; something to grasp, especially for support.
3. something that holds fast or supports something else.
4. an order reserving something:

   to put a hold on a library book.

5. Finance. a security purchased or recommended for long-term growth.
6. a controlling force or dominating influence:

   to have a hold on a person.

7. Wrestling. a method of seizing an opponent and keeping him in control:

   a toe hold.

8. Music. fermata ( def ).
9. a pause or delay, as in a continuing series:

   a hold in the movements of a dance.

10. a prison or prison cell.
11. a receptacle for something:

    a basket used as a hold for letters.

12. Rocketry. a halt in the prelaunch countdown, either planned or unexpectedly called, to allow correction of one or more faults in the rocket or missile.
13. a fortified place; stronghold.
14. (on telephones with two or more lines) a feature that enables a person to maintain a connection on one line while answering another line.

verb phrase

1. 1. to keep at a distance; resist; repel.
   2. to postpone action; defer:

      If you hold off applying for a passport, you may not get one in time.

2. 1. to restrain or check:

      Police held back the crowd.

   2. to retain possession of; keep back:

      He held back ten dollars.

   3. to refrain from revealing; withhold:

      to hold back information.

   4. to refrain from participating or engaging in some activity:

      He held back from joining in the singing because he felt depressed.

   5. Photography. dodge ( def 2 ).
3. 1. to offer; give:

      She held up his father as an example to follow.

   2. to present to notice; expose:

      to hold someone up to ridicule.

   3. to hinder; delay:

      The plane's departure was held up because of the storm.

   4. to stop by force in order to rob.
   5. to support; uphold:

      to hold up farm prices.

   6. to stop; halt:

      They held up at the gate.

   7. to maintain one's position or condition; endure:

      They held up through all their troubles.

4. 1. to be in agreement with; concur with:

      I don't hold with his pessimistic views.

   2. to approve of; condone:

      They won't hold with such a travesty of justice.

5. 1. to keep a firm grip on.
   2. to keep going; continue.
   3. to maintain, as one's opinion or position.
   4. to stop; halt (usually used imperatively):

      Hold on now! That isn't what I meant at all.

   5. hold ¹( def 24 ).
6. 1. to restrain; check:

      Hold down that noise!

   2. to continue to hold and manage well:

      She held down that job for years.

7. 1. to keep for future consideration or action; postpone.
   2. to remain in possession or in office beyond the regular term.
   3. to remain beyond the arranged period:

      The movie was held over for a week.

   4. Music. to prolong (a tone) from one measure to the next.
8. 1. to restrain; check; curb.
   2. to contain oneself; exercise restraint:

      He was raging inside, but held himself in for fear of saying something he would regret.

9. 1. to present; offer.
   2. to stretch forth; extend:

      Hold out your hand.

   3. to continue to exist; last:

      Will the food hold out?

   4. to refuse to yield or submit:

      The defenders held out for weeks.

   5. to withhold something expected or due:

      He was suspected of holding out information important to the case.

10. 1. to extend or offer; propose.
    2. to talk at great length; harangue:

       When we left, he was still holding forth on World War II.

1. Nautical.
   1. the entire cargo space in the hull of a vessel.
   2. the cargo space in the hull of a vessel between the lowermost deck and the bottom.
   3. any individual compartment of such cargo spaces, closed by bulkheads and having its own hatchway.
2. Aviation. the cargo compartment of an aircraft.