noun Date: circa 1952 the usually oval course flown (as over an airport) by aircraft awaiting clearance especially to land, a state of waiting or suspended activity or progress
HOLDING PATTERN
Meaning of HOLDING PATTERN in English
Merriam Webster. Explanatory English dictionary Merriam Webster. Толковый словарь английского языка Мерриам-Уэбстер. 2012