/hohl"ding/ , n.
1. the act of a person or thing that holds.
2. a section of land leased or otherwise tenanted, esp. for agricultural purposes.
3. a company owned by a holding company.
4. Often, holdings . legally owned property, esp. stocks, bonds, or real estate.
5. holdings , Library Science. the entire collection of books, periodicals, and other materials in a library.
6. Sports. the illegal obstruction of an opponent, as in football, basketball, or ice hockey, by use of the hands, arms, or stick.
[ 1175-1225; ME holding. See HOLD 1 , -ING 1 ]