ahold

[ uh-hohld ]

/ əˈhoʊld /

noun

Informal. a hold or grasp (often followed by of): He took ahold of my arm. Grab ahold!

adverb

Nautical Archaic. close to the wind and on a single tack: to keep a vessel ahold.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for ahold

get ahold of, Informal. hold¹(def 52).

Origin of ahold

1600–10; a-¹ + hold¹ (noun)

Words nearby ahold

ahmadiyyah, ahmedabad, ahmednagar, ahmose i, ahnfelt's seaweed, ahold, aholt, ahom, ahorse, ahoy, ahq

Example sentences from the Web for ahold

“My prom date got ahold of my number and called me recently and congratulated me on everything that's going on,” says Trainor.
‘All About That Bass’ Singer Meghan Trainor On Haters and Her Polarizing (and Unlikely) No. 1 Hit|Marlow Stern|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The guy who took the video got ahold of me and said he wanted half a million dollars and sent me the video.
Tom Sizemore’s Revenge: On Tom Cruise’s Scientology Recruitment, Drugs, and Craving a Comeback|Marlow Stern|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So I called someone at HBO and got ahold of the first season and just watched them all in two days.
The Director Isn’t Done Yet: An Interview With Steven Soderbergh|Andrew Romano|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And wingers, as a general principle, just get ahold of yourselves, would you?
An Article That Made Me Sad, and a Little Response to Readers|Michael Tomasky|June 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST

I'd love to get ahold of a Manhattan audience on this subject.
In Which I Volunteer for Future College Football Debates|Michael Tomasky|May 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Describe what you saw at that time—I want to know how they had ahold of him?
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Just let me get ahold o' you, sir, and I'll show you, you young rascal!
Other Main-Travelled Roads|Hamlin Garland
Yes; they had ahold of him—they were dragging him out—I mean they had ahold of him—two on each side.
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Nichols then said he told him, along with the police they would try to get ahold of Mr. Abt, which they did.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
I don't know what leg I got him by, but I got him by the leg, and I would say there were seven or eight of us had ahold of him.
Warren Commission (12 of 26): Hearings Vol. XII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

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