[hold] vb held ; hold.ing [ME, fr. OE healdan; akin to OHG haltan to hold, and perh. to L celer rapid, Gk klonos agitation] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to have possession or ownership of or have at one's disposal "~s property worth millions" "the bank ~s the title to the car" b: to have as a privilege or position of responsibility "~ a professorship" c: to have as a mark of distinction "~s the record for the 100-yard dash" "~s a PhD"
2: to keep under restraint "~ price increases to a minimum": as a: to prevent free expression of "~ your temper" b: to prevent from some action "ordered the troops to ~ fire" "the only restraining motive which may ~ the hand of a tyrant --Thomas Jefferson" c: to keep back from use "ask them to ~ a room for us" "I'll have a hot dog, and ~ the mustard" d: to delay temporarily the handling of "please ~ all my calls"
3: to make liable or accountable or bound to an obligation "I'll ~ you to your promise"
4. a: to have or maintain in the grasp "~ my hand" "this is how you ~ the racket"; also: aim, point "held a gun on them" b: to support in a particular position or keep from falling or moving "~ me up so I can see" "~ the ladder steady" "a clamp ~s the whole thing together" "~ your head up" c: to bear the pressure of: support "can the roof ~ all of that weight"
5: to prevent from leaving or getting away "~ the train": as a: to avoid emitting or letting out "how long can you ~ your breath" b: to restrain as or as if a captive "the suspect was held without bail" "held them at gunpoint"; also: to have strong appeal to "the book held my interest throughout"
6. a: to enclose and keep in a container or within bounds: contain "the jug ~s one gallon" "this corral will not ~ all of the horses" b: to be able to consume easily or without undue effect "can't ~ any more pie"; esp: to be able to drink (alcoholic beverages) without becoming noticeably drunk "can't ~ your liquor" c: accommodate "the restaurant ~s 400 diners" d: to have as a principal or essential feature or attribute "the book ~s a number of surprises"; also: to have in store "no one knows what the future ~s"
7. a: to have in the mind or express as a judgment, opinion, or belief "I ~ the view that this is wrong" "~ a grudge" "~ing that it is nobody's business but his --Jack Olsen"--often used with against "in America they ~ everything you say against you --Paul McCartney" b: to think of in a particular way: regard "were held in high esteem"
8. a: to assemble for and carry on the activity of "held a convention" b: to cause to be carried on: conduct "will ~ a seminar" c: to qualify for comparison with -- hold court : to be the center of attention among friends or admirers -- hold forth : to speak at length: expatiate -- hold hands : to engage one's hand with another's esp. as an expression of affection -- hold one's horses : to slow down or stop for a moment--usu. used in the imperative -- hold one's own : to do well in the face of difficulty or opposition -- hold one's tongue : to keep silent -- hold sway : to have a dominant influence: rule -- hold the bag 1: to be left empty-handed
2: to bear alone a responsibility that should have been shared by others -- hold the fort 1: to maintain a firm position
2: to take care of usual affairs "is holding the fort until the manager returns" -- hold the line : to maintain the current position or situation "hold the line on prices" -- hold to : to give firm assent to: adhere to strongly "holds to his promise" -- hold to account : to hold responsible -- hold water : to stand up under criticism or analysis -- hold with : to agree with or approve of
[2]hold n (14c) 1: stronghold 1
2. a: confinement, custody b: prison 3 a (1): the act or the manner of holding or grasping: grip "released his ~ on the handle" (2): a manner of grasping an opponent in wrestling b: a nonphysical bond that attaches, restrains, or constrains or by which something is affected, controlled, or dominated "has lost its ~ on the broad public --Oscar Cargill" c: full comprehension "get ~ of exactly what is happening --J. P. Lyford" d: full or immediate control: possession "get ~ of yourself" "wants to get ~ of a road map" e: touch 14--used with of "tried to get ~ of me"
4: something that may be grasped as a support
5. a: fermata b: the time between the onset and the release of a vocal articulation
6: a sudden motionless posture at the end of a dance
7. a: an order or indication that something is to be reserved or delayed b: a delay in a countdown (as in launching a spacecraft) -- on hold 1: into a state of interruption during a telephone call when one party switches to another line without totally disconnecting the other party
2: into a state or period of indefinite suspension "put our plans on hold" [3]hold n [alter. of hole] (1591) 1: the interior of a ship below decks; esp: the cargo deck of a ship
2: the cargo compartment of a plane