hold

I. verb (held; holding) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English healdan; akin to Old High German haltan to hold, and perhaps to Latin celer rapid, Greek klonos agitation Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to have possession or ownership of or have at one's disposal <

holds property worth millions

> <

the bank holds the title to the car

> b. to have as a privilege or position of responsibility <

hold a professorship

> c. to have as a mark of distinction <

holds the record for the 100-yard dash

> <

holds a PhD

> 2. to keep under restraint <

hold price increases to a minimum

>: as a. to prevent free expression of <

hold your temper

> b. to prevent from some action <

ordered the troops to hold fire

> <

the only restraining motive which may hold the hand of a tyrant — Thomas Jefferson

> c. to keep back from use <

ask them to hold a room for us

> <

I'll have a hot dog, and hold the mustard

> d. to delay temporarily the handling of <

please hold all my calls

> 3. to make liable or accountable or bound to an obligation <

I'll hold you to your promise

> 4. a. to have or maintain in the grasp <

hold my hand

> <

this is how you hold the racket

>; also aim, point <

held a gun on them

> b. to support in a particular position or keep from falling or moving <

hold me up so I can see

> <

hold the ladder steady

> <

a clamp holds the whole thing together

> <

hold your head up

> c. to bear the pressure of ; support <

can the roof hold all of that weight

> 5. to prevent from leaving or getting away <

hold the train

>: as a. to avoid emitting or letting out <

how long can you hold 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 holds one gallon

> <

this corral will not hold all of the horses

> b. to be able to consume easily or without undue effect <

can't hold any more pie

>; especially to be able to drink (alcoholic beverages) without becoming noticeably drunk <

can't hold your liquor

> c. accommodate <

the restaurant holds 400 diners

> d. to have as a principal or essential feature or attribute <

the book holds a number of surprises

>; also to have in store <

no one knows what the future holds

> 7. a. to have in the mind or express as a judgment, opinion, or belief <

I hold the view that this is wrong

> <

hold a grudge

> <

holding that it is nobody's business but his — Jack Olsen

> — often used with against <

in America they hold 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 hold a seminar

> c. to produce or sponsor especially as a public exhibition <

will hold an art show

> 9. a. to maintain occupation, control, or defense of <

the troops held the ridge

>; also to resist the offensive efforts or advance of <

held the opposing team to just two points

> b. to maintain (a certain condition, situation, or course of action) without change <

hold a course due east

> 10. to cover (a part of the body) especially for protection <

had to hold their ears because of the cold

> intransitive verb 1. a. to maintain position ; refuse to give ground <

the defensive line is holding

> b. to continue in the same way or to the same degree ; last <

hopes the weather will hold

> — often used with up 2. to derive right or title — often used with of or from 3. to be or remain valid ; apply <

the rule holds in most cases

> — often used in the phrase hold true 4. to maintain a grasp on something ; remain fastened to something <

the anchor held in the rough sea

> 5. to go ahead as one has been going <

held south for several miles

> 6. to bear or carry oneself <

asked him to hold still

> 7. to forbear an intended or threatened action ; halt, pause — often used as a command 8. to stop counting during a countdown 9. slang to have illicit drug material in one's possession Synonyms: see contain II. noun Date: 14th century 1. stronghold 1 2. a. confinement, custody b. prison 3. a. (1) the act or the manner of holding or grasping ; grip <

released his hold 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 hold on the broad public — Oscar Cargill

> c. full comprehension <

get hold of exactly what is happening — J. P. Lyford

> d. full or immediate control ; possession <

get hold of yourself

> <

wants to get hold of a road map

> e. touch 14 — used with of <

tried to get hold 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) III. noun Etymology: alteration of hole Date: 1591 1. the interior of a ship below decks; especially the cargo deck of a ship 2. the cargo compartment of a plane