hold

to bear, sustain, or support, as with the hands or arms, or by any other means.

to keep in a specified state, relation, etc.: The preacher held them spellbound.

to detain: The police held him at the station house.

to engage in; preside over; carry on: to hold a meeting.

to keep back from action; hinder; restrain: Fear held him from acting.

to have the ownership or use of; keep as one's own; occupy: to hold political office.

to contain or be capable of containing: This bottle holds a quart.

to bind or make accountable to an obligation: We will hold you to your promise to pay back the money.

to have or keep in the mind; think or believe: We hold this belief.

to regard or consider: to hold a person responsible.

to decide legally.

to consider of a certain value; rate: We held her best of all the applicants.

to keep forcibly, as against an adversary: Enemy forces held the hill.

to point, aim, or direct: He held a gun on the prisoner.The firefighter held a hose on the blaze.

Music. to sustain (a note, chord, or rest).

to omit from the usual order or combination: Give me a burger well-done—hold the pickle.

to keep or maintain a grasp on something.

to maintain one's position against opposition; continue in resistance.

to agree or side (usually followed by with): to hold with new methods.

to keep a telephone connection open; refrain from hanging up (often followed by on): The customer service rep asked me to hold while she checked my account balance.Hold on, I’ve got another incoming call.

to hold property by some tenure; derive title (usually followed by by, from, in, or of).

to remain attached, faithful, or steadfast (usually followed by to): to hold to one's purpose.

to remain valid; be in force: The rule does not hold.

to refrain or forbear (usually used imperatively).

something that holds fast or supports something else.

an order reserving something: to put a hold on a library book.

Finance. a security purchased or recommended for long-term growth.

a controlling force or dominating influence: to have a hold on a person.

Wrestling. a method of seizing an opponent and keeping him in control: a toe hold.

Music. fermata.

a pause or delay, as in a continuing series: a hold in the movements of a dance.

a prison or prison cell.

a receptacle for something: a basket used as a hold for letters.

Rocketry. a halt in the prelaunch countdown, either planned or unexpectedly called, to allow correction of one or more faults in the rocket or missile.

a fortified place; stronghold.

(on telephones with two or more lines) a feature that enables a person to maintain a connection on one line while answering another line.

to maintain or be maintained in a specified state or condition: to hold one's emotions in check; hold firm

(tr) to set aside or reserve: they will hold our tickets until tomorrow

(when intr, usually used in commands) to restrain or be restrained from motion, action, departure, etc: hold that man until the police come

(intr) to remain fast or unbroken: that cable won't hold much longer

(intr) (of the weather) to remain dry and bright: how long will the weather hold?

(tr) to keep the attention of: her singing held the audience

(tr) to engage in or carry on: to hold a meeting

(tr) to have the ownership, possession, etc, of: he holds a law degree from London; who's holding the ace of spades?

(tr) to have the use of or responsibility for: to hold the office of director

(tr) to have the space or capacity for: the carton will hold only eight books

(tr) to be able to control the outward effects of drinking beer, spirits, etc: he can hold his drink well

(often foll by to or by) to remain or cause to remain committed to: hold him to his promise; he held by his views in spite of opposition

(tr; takes a clause as object) to claim: he holds that the theory is incorrect

(intr) to remain relevant, valid, or true: the old philosophies don't hold nowadays

(tr) to keep in the mind: to hold affection for someone

(tr) to regard or consider in a specified manner: I hold him very dear

(tr) to guard or defend successfully: hold the fort against the attack

(intr) to continue to go: hold on one's way

(sometimes foll by on) music to sustain the sound of (a note) throughout its specified duration: to hold on a semibreve for its full value

(tr) computing to retain (data) in a storage device after copying onto another storage device or onto another location in the same device: Compare clear (def. 49)

(tr) to be in possession of illegal drugs

hold for or hold good for to apply or be relevant to: the same rules hold for everyone

holding thumbs Southern African holding the thumb of one hand with the other, in the hope of bringing good luck

hold it!

hold one's head high to conduct oneself in a proud and confident manner

hold one's own to maintain one's situation or position esp in spite of opposition or difficulty

hold one's peace or hold one's tongue to keep silent

hold water to prove credible, logical, or consistent

there is no holding him he is so spirited or resolute that he cannot be restrained

an object or device that holds fast or grips something else so as to hold it fast

controlling force or influence: she has a hold on him

a short delay or pause

a prison or a cell in a prison

wrestling a way of seizing one's opponent: a wrist hold

music a pause or fermata

a container

archaic a fortified place

get hold of

no holds barred all limitations removed

on hold in a state of temporary postponement or delay