I. noun
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : land held especially by a vassal or tenant
b. : property (as land or securities) owned — usually used in plural
2. : a ruling of a court especially on an issue of law raised in a case — compare dictum
3. : something that holds
II. adjective
Date: 1568
1. : having the effect of holding back or delaying something
the [war] represented a holding action against the spread of world Communism — Sidney Offit
2. : intended for usually temporary storage or retention
a holding tank