hold1 (həʊld) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) |
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| —vb (often foll by to or by) , holds, holding, held |
| 1. | to have or keep (an object) with or within the hands, arms, etc; clasp |
| 2. | (tr) to support or bear: to hold a drowning man's head above water |
| 3. | to maintain or be maintained in a specified state or condition: to hold one's emotions in check; hold firm |
| 4. | (tr) to set aside or reserve: they will hold our tickets until tomorrow |
| 5. | (when intr, usually used in commands) to restrain or be restrained from motion, action, departure, etc: hold that man until the police come |
| 6. | (intr) to remain fast or unbroken: that cable won't hold much longer |
| 7. | (intr) (of the weather) to remain dry and bright: how long will the weather hold? |
| 8. | (tr) to keep the attention of: her singing held the audience |
| 9. | (tr) to engage in or carry on: to hold a meeting |
| 10. | (tr) to have the ownership, possession, etc, of: he holds a law degree from London; who's holding the ace of spades? |
| 11. | (tr) to have the use of or responsibility for: to hold the office of director |
| 12. | (tr) to have the space or capacity for: the carton will hold only eight books |
| 13. | (tr) to be able to control the outward effects of drinking beer, spirits, etc: he can hold his drink well |
| 14. | to remain or cause to remain committed to: hold him to his promise; he held by his views in spite of opposition |
| 15. | (tr; takes a clause as object) to claim: he holds that the theory is incorrect |
| 16. | (intr) to remain relevant, valid, or true: the old philosophies don't hold nowadays |
| 17. | (tr) to keep in the mind: to hold affection for someone |
| 18. | (tr) to regard or consider in a specified manner: I hold him very dear |
| 19. | (tr) to guard or defend successfully: hold the fort against the attack |
| 20. | (intr) to continue to go: hold on one's way |
| 21. | (sometimes foll by on) music to sustain the sound of (a note) throughout its specified duration: to hold on a semibreve for its full value |
| 22. | (tr) computing Compare clear to retain (data) in a storage device after copying onto another storage device or onto another location in the same device |
| 23. | (tr) to be in possession of illegal drugs |
| 24. | hold for, hold good for to apply or be relevant to: the same rules hold for everyone |
| 25. | (South African) holding thumbs holding the thumb of one hand with the other, in the hope of bringing good luck |
| 26. | hold it! |
| | a. stop! wait! |
| | b. stay in the same position! as when being photographed |
| 27. | hold one's head high to conduct oneself in a proud and confident manner |
| 28. | hold one's own to maintain one's situation or position esp in spite of opposition or difficulty |
| 29. | hold one's peace, hold one's tongue to keep silent |
| 30. | hold water to prove credible, logical, or consistent |
| 31. | there is no holding him he is so spirited or resolute that he cannot be restrained |
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| —n |
| 32. | the act or method of holding fast or grasping, as with the hands |
| 33. | something to hold onto, as for support or control |
| 34. | an object or device that holds fast or grips something else so as to hold it fast |
| 35. | controlling force or influence: she has a hold on him |
| 36. | a short delay or pause |
| 37. | a prison or a cell in a prison |
| 38. | wrestling a way of seizing one's opponent: a wrist hold |
| 39. | music a pause or fermata |
| 40. | a. a tenure or holding, esp of land |
| | b. (in combination): leasehold; freehold; copyhold |
| 41. | a container |
| 42. | archaic a fortified place |
| 43. | get hold of |
| | a. to obtain |
| | b. to come into contact with |
| 44. | no holds barred all limitations removed |
| 45. | on hold in a state of temporary postponement or delay |
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| [Old English healdan; related to Old Norse halla, Gothic haldan, German halten] |
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| 'holdable1 |
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| —adj |