hold

hold

hold¹ [hōld]

vt.

held, holding [ME holden < Anglian OE haldan (WS healdan), akin to Ger halten, Goth haldan, to tend sheep < IE base * kel-, to drive, incite to action > Gr kelēs, swift horse, L celer, swift: prob. sense development: drive (cattle, etc.)—tend—possess]

1. to take and keep with the hands or arms, or by other means; grasp; clutch; seize

☆ 2. to keep from going away; not let escape [to hold a prisoner, hold the train]

3. to keep in a certain place or position, or in a specified condition [to hold one's head up]

4. to restrain or control; specif.,

a) to keep from falling; bear the weight of; support [pillars holding the roof]

b) to keep from acting; keep back [hold your tongue]

c) to keep from advancing or attacking

d) to keep from getting an advantage

e) to get and keep control of; keep from relaxing [to hold someone's attention]

f) to continue; maintain [to hold a course]

g) to sustain or satisfy for the time being [a muffin should hold you until supper time ]

☆ h) to keep (a letter, etc.) for delivery later

i) to keep (a room, etc.) for use later

j) to keep under obligation; bind [hold him to his word]

k) to resist the effects of (alcoholic liquor)

5. to have and keep as one's own; have the duties, privileges, etc. of; own; possess; occupy [to hold shares of stock, to hold the office of mayor]

6. to keep against an enemy; guard; defend [hold the fort]

7. to have or conduct together; specif.,

a) to carry on (a meeting, conversation, etc.)

b) to perform (a function, service, etc.) [to hold classes in the morning]

8. to call together or preside over [to hold court]

9. to have or keep within itself; have room or space for; contain [a bottle that holds a quart]

10. to have or keep in the mind

11. to have an opinion or belief about; regard; consider [to hold a statement to be untrue]

12. Law

a) to decide; adjudge; decree

b) to bind by contract

c) to possess by legal title [to hold a mortgage]

13. Music to prolong (a tone or rest)

vi.

1. to retain a hold, a firm contact, etc. [hold tight]

2. to go on being firm, loyal, etc. [to hold to a resolution]

3. to remain unbroken or unyielding; not give way [the rope held]

4. to have right or title: usually with from or of

5. to be in effect or in force; be true or valid [a rule that holds in any case]

6. to keep up; continue [the wind held from the north ]; specif.,

a) to remain in the air, waiting to land [a plane held over Boston]

b) to remain on a telephone line [that line is busy — will you hold?]

7. Archaic to go no further; stop oneself; halt: usually in the imperative

n.

1. the act or manner of grasping or seizing; grip; specif., a way of gripping an opponent in wrestling

2. a thing to hold or hold on by

3. a thing for holding or containing something else

4.

a) a controlling or dominating force; restraining authority [to have a firm hold over someone]

b) a being aware or in control [to lose one's hold on life]

5. a means of confinement; prison

6. a temporary halt or delay, as to make repairs, or an order to make such a halt

7. an order reserving something

8. Obs. a stronghold

9. Obs. the act or fact of guarding, possessing, etc.

10. Music PAUSE (sense 4)

SYN.- CONTAIN

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catch hold of

to take; seize; grasp

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get hold of

1. to take; seize; grasp

2. to acquire

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hold back

1. to restrain

2. to refrain

3. to retain

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hold down

1. to keep down or under control; restrain

☆ 2. Informal to have and keep (a job)

3. to limit; restrict [the rain held down attendance at the game]

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hold forth [cf. Phil. 2:16]

1. to speak at some length; preach; lecture

2. Now Rare to offer; propose

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hold in

1. to keep in or back

2. to control oneself or one's impulses

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hold off

1. to keep away or at a distance

2. to keep from attacking or doing something

3. to delay action on a matter, as in awaiting additional information

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hold on

1. to retain one's hold

2. to continue; persist

3. Informal stop! wait!

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hold one's own

to maintain one's place or condition in spite of obstacles or reverses

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hold out

1. to last; endure; continue

2. to continue resistance; stand firm; not yield

3. to offer

☆ 4. Informal to fail or refuse to give (what is to be given)

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hold out for

Informal to stand firm in demanding

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hold over

1. to postpone consideration of or action on

2. to keep or stay for an additional period or term

☆ 3. to keep as a threat or advantage over

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hold up

1. to keep from falling; prop up

2. to show; exhibit

3. to last; endure; continue

4. to stop; delay; impede

☆ 5. to stop forcibly and rob

☆ 6. Informal to overcharge

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hold with

1. to agree or side with

2. to approve of

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lay hold of or take hold of

1. to take; seize; grasp

2. to get control or possession of

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no holds barred

Informal with no set rules or limits

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on hold

1. in a period or state of interruption or delay [the countdown was on hold]

2. in a state of interruption in a telephone call, as during a transfer to another line [I was on hold for five minutes]

hold² [hōld]

n.

[altered (after HOLD¹) < HOLE or < MDu hol, a hole, cave, ship's hold]

1. the interior of a ship below decks, esp. below the lower deck, in which the cargo is carried

2. the compartment for cargo in an aircraft