v.
Pronunciation: bi- ' h ō ld, b ē -
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -held \ - ' held \ ; -hold · ing
Etymology: Middle English, to keep, behold, from Old English behealdan, from be- + healdan to hold
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to perceive through sight or apprehension : SEE
2 : to gaze upon : OBSERVE
intransitive verb ― used in the imperative especially to call attention
– be · hold · er noun