holding

American  

[hohl-ding] / ˈhoʊl dɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that holds. hold.

2. a section of land leased or otherwise tenanted, especially for agricultural purposes.

3. a company owned by a holding company.

4. Often holdings. legally owned property, especially stocks, bonds, or real estate.

5. Library Science. holdings, the entire collection of books, periodicals, and other materials in a library.

6. Sports. the illegal obstruction of an opponent, as in football, basketball, or ice hockey, by use of the hands, arms, or stick.

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holding British  

/ ˈhəʊldɪŋ /

noun

1. land held under a lease and used for agriculture or similar purposes

2. (often plural) property to which the holder has legal title, such as land, stocks, shares, and other investments

3. sport the obstruction of an opponent with the hands or arms, esp in boxing

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adjective

1. informal in funds; having money

Other Word Forms

• preholding noun

Etymology

Origin of holding

First recorded in 1175–1225, holding is from the Middle English word holding. See hold ¹, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Granite is particularly ideal for this technology as it is very effective at holding and conducting the Earth's heat.

From BBC

Salvatore J. Stile II, founder of a customs-brokerage firm, said that some businesses are holding out for higher prices for their claims.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Businesses can plan for a known cost increase, but they struggle when the target keeps moving, and some are holding back on major investment and routing decisions as a result."

From BBC

Kyle Richards, who is on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” wrote that she is “so very sorry for your unimaginable loss. I’m holding you in my thoughts and prayers.”

From Los Angeles Times

If that happens, the monetary backdrop would become “increasingly supportive for precious metals, including silver, as the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets declines.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• equity
• goods
• ownership
• property