noun 1.something that
holds or secures:
a pencil holder. 2.a person who has the ownership,
possession, or use of something; owner; tenant.
3.Law. a person who has the legal right to enforce a negotiable instrument.
Origin: 1300–50; Middle English haldere. See
hold1,
-er1 Related forms hold·er·ship, noun
pre·hold·er, noun