phrasal
1.
a. : to keep in the grasp especially with persistence
the child held on to the man's hand tightly
held on to what he had with desperation
b. : to keep control of
held on to his temper
had a hard time holding on to himself
2.
a. : not to relinquish : not give up or abandon
she held on to a quiet plan of her own — Margaret Deland
b. : to continue to produce (as a sound) or sing (as a note)
held on to the final chord for a long time