hold

1. 1

   To grasp or grip.transitive

   • Hold the pencil like this.
2. 2

   To contain or store.transitive

   • This package holds six bottles.
3. 3

   To maintain or keep to a position or state.; To have and keep possession of something.transitive

   • Hold my coat for me.
   • The general ordered the colonel to hold his position at all costs.
4. 4

   To maintain or keep to a position or state.; To reserve.transitive

   • Hold a table for us at 7:00.
5. 5

   To maintain or keep to a position or state.; To cause to wait or delay.transitive

   • Hold the elevator.
6. 6

   To maintain or keep to a position or state.; To halt or delay (medication) temporarily.transitive

   • Patients who test positive for COVID-19 infection should be advised to hold their biologic dose until their infection clears.
7. 7

   To maintain or keep to a position or state.; To detain.transitive

   • Hold the suspect in this cell.
8. 8

   To maintain or keep to a position or state.; To be or remain valid; to apply (usually in the third person).copulativeintransitive

   • to hold true
   • The proposition holds.
9. 9

   To maintain or keep to a position or state.; To keep oneself in a particular state.copulativeintransitive

   • to hold firm
10. 10

    To maintain or keep to a position or state.; To impose restraint upon; to limit in motion or action; to bind legally or morally; to confine; to restrain.transitive

    • We cannot hold mortality's strong hand.
    • Death! what do'st? O, hold thy blow.

ant. release

1. 1

   A grasp or grip.

   • Keep a firm hold on the handlebars.
2. 2

   An act or instance of holding.

   • Can I have a hold of the baby?
3. 3

   A place where animals are held for safety

4. 4

   An order that something is to be reserved or delayed, limiting or preventing how it can be dealt with.

   • Senator X placed a hold on the bill, then went to the library and placed a hold on a book.
5. 5

   Something reserved or kept.

   • We have a hold here for you.
6. 6

   Power over someone or something.

   • The fad has gained a sure hold on every teenager.
7. 7

   The ability to persist.

   • This year I slept and woke with pain, ⁠I almost wish’d no more to wake, ⁠And that my hold on life would break Before I heard those bells again: […]
   • Despite their seemingly strong hold on life, as indicated by the persistence of movement in decapitation tests, rattlers are relatively frail creatures and are easily killed.
8. 8

   The property of maintaining the shape of styled hair.

   • Sculpturing gels provide stiffer hold than styling gels, which provide better hold than mousses.
9. 9

   A position or grip used to control the opponent.

   • He got him in a tight hold and pinned him to the mat.
10. 10

    An exercise involving holding a position for a set time

1. 1

   The cargo area of a ship or aircraft (often holds or cargo hold).

   • We watched our luggage being loaded into the hold of the plane.

1. 1

   Gracious; friendly; faithful; true.obsolete

   • at the proper moment, I stepped forward with a gay heart and a hold one