- holding pattern
- noun Date: circa 1952 1. the usually oval course flown (as over an airport) by aircraft awaiting clearance especially to land 2. a state of waiting or suspended activity or progress
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
holding pattern
Look at other dictionaries:
holding pattern — holding .pattern n [C usually singular] 1.) the path that an aircraft flies along while it is waiting for permission to land 2.) a situation in which you cannot act because you are waiting for the result of something in a holding pattern ▪ My… … Dictionary of contemporary English
holding pattern — holding ,pattern noun count 1. ) the direction in the sky that an airplane follows as it waits for permission to land 2. ) MAINLY JOURNALISM a situation in which you stop what you are doing while you decide what to do next … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
holding pattern — n. 1. the course an airplane takes while circling an airport waiting for clearance to land 2. any period or state in which progress is interrupted or delayed … English World dictionary
holding pattern — noun 1. a state of inaction with no progress and no change you should go into a holding pattern until he gets over his disappointment • Hypernyms: ↑inaction, ↑inactivity, ↑inactiveness 2. the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an… … Useful english dictionary
holding pattern — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms holding pattern : singular holding pattern plural holding patterns 1) the direction in the sky that a plane follows as it waits for permission to land 2) mainly journalism a situation in which you stop what you … English dictionary
holding pattern — noun a) A path taken by an aircraft waiting to land. The plane flew in a holding pattern for half an hour because one runway was closed. b) Any failure to advance; useless or unproductive activity. This project is in a holding pattern until all… … Wiktionary
holding pattern mode — Automatic control of an aircraft to fly the programmed holding pattern … Aviation dictionary
holding pattern — 1. a traffic pattern for aircraft at a specified location (holding point) where they are ordered to remain until permitted to land or proceed. 2. a state or period in which no progress or change is made or planned. [1950 55] * * * … Universalium
holding pattern — noun the flight path maintained by an aircraft awaiting permission to land … English new terms dictionary
holding pattern — noun (C) the line of travel that an aircraft follows as it flies over a landing place while it is waiting for permission to land … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
