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1. Dictionary

   Hold

   /hōld/

   

   verb

   • 1. grasp, carry, or support with one's hands: "she was holding a brown leather suitcase" Similar clasphold ontoclutchgraspgripclenchcling tohave in one's handcarrybearliterary:cleave toOpposite releaselet go of
   • ▪ keep or sustain in a specified position: "I held the door open for him"
   • ▪ embrace (someone): "Mark pulled her into his arms and held her close" Similar embracehugclaspcradlefoldenfoldenvelopsqueezehold tighthold in one's armsliterary:embosom
   • ▪ be able to bear (the weight of a person or thing): "I reached up to the nearest branch that seemed likely to hold my weight" Similar supportbearcarrytakehold upkeep upsustainprop upbolster upshore upbuttressbrace
   • ▪ (of a vehicle) maintain close contact with (the road), especially when driven at speed: "the car holds the corners very well"
   • ▪ (of a ship or an aircraft) continue to follow (a particular course): "the ship is holding a southeasterly course"
   • ▪ keep going in a particular direction: archaic "he held on his way, close behind his friend"
   • 2. keep or detain (someone): "the police were holding him on a murder charge" Similar detainhold in custodyimprisonlock upshut upput behind barsput in prisonput in jailincarceratekeep under lock and keyconfineimpoundimmureinternconstrainkeep under constraintinformal:put awayput insideOpposite let go
   • ▪ keep possession of (something), typically in the face of a challenge or attack: "the rebels held the town for many weeks"
   • ▪ keep (someone's interest or attention). Similar maintainkeepkeep upkeep aliveoccupyengrossabsorbinterestcaptivatefascinateenthrallrivetmonopolizeengagecatchcapturegriparrestOpposite lose
   • ▪ (of a singer or musician) sustain (a note).
   • ▪ stay or cause to stay at a certain value or level: "the savings rate held at 5%"
   • 3. remain secure, intact, or in position without breaking or giving way: "the boat's anchor would not hold"
   • ▪ (of a favorable condition or situation) continue without changing: "let's hope her luck holds" Similar continuecarry ongo onhold onhold outkeep upkeep goinglastpersistendurestayremainremain unchangedOpposite end
   • ▪ be or remain valid or available: "I'll have that coffee now, if the offer still holds" Similar remain availableremain validremain in forcehold goodstandapplyremainexistoperateobtainbe the casebe in forcebe in operationbe in effectOpposite be no longer valid
   • ▪ (of an argument or theory) be logical, consistent, or convincing: "this basic argument holds for almost any economic model of competition"
   • 4. contain or be capable of containing (a specified amount): "the tank held twenty-four gallons" Similar have a capacity oftakehave room forhave space forcontaincompriseaccommodatefitseathave seats for
   • ▪ be able to drink (a reasonable amount of alcohol) without becoming drunk or suffering any ill effects: "I can hold my liquor as well as anyone"
   • ▪ have or be characterized by: "I don't know what the future holds"
   • 5. have in one's possession: "the managing director still holds fifty shares in the company" Similar possesshaveownbearcarrybe the owner ofhave in one's possessionbe in possession ofhave to one's name
   • ▪ be in possession of illegal drugs: informal North American "he was holding, and the police hauled him off to jail"
   • ▪ have or occupy (a job or position): "she held office from 1985 to 90" Similar occupyhavebe infillinformal:hold down
   • ▪ have or adhere to (a belief or opinion): "I feel nothing but pity for someone who holds such chauvinistic views" Similar believethinkconsidertake the viewfeelmaintainsweardeembe of the opinionsubscribe to the opinionadjudgejudgeruledecidefigureinformal:reckonformal:esteemopine
   • ▪ regard (someone or something) in a specified way: "you can't hold yourself responsible for what happened"
   • ▪ (of a judge or court) rule; decide: "the Court of Appeals held that there was no evidence to support the judge's assessment"
   • 6. keep or reserve for someone: "a reservation can be held for twenty-four hours"
   • ▪ maintain (a phone connection) until the person one has called is free to speak: "please hold, and I'll see if he's available"
   • 7. prevent from going ahead or occurring: "hold your fire!"
   • ▪ refrain from adding or using (something, typically an item of food or drink): informal North American "a strawberry margarita, but hold the tequila"
   • ▪ used as a way of exhorting someone to wait or to stop doing something: informal "hold it right there, pal!"
   • ▪ restrain oneself: archaic "“Hold, hold!” he cried"
   • 8. arrange and take part in (a meeting or conversation): "a meeting was held at the church" Similar convenecallassemblesummonconducthaveorganizerunpreside overofficiate atformal:convokeOpposite disband

   noun

   • 1. an act or manner of grasping something; a grip: "he caught hold of her arm" Similar gripgraspclaspclutchpurchasefootholdfootingtoehold
   • ▪ a particular way of grasping or restraining someone, especially an opponent in wrestling or judo.
   • ▪ a place where one can grip with one's hands or feet while climbing: "he felt carefully with his feet for a hold and swung himself up"
   • 2. power or control: "he discovered that Tom had some kind of hold over his father" Similar influencepowercontroldominancepullswaymasteryauthorityleverageinformal:cloutcontrolgrippowerstrangleholddominionauthorityascendancy
   • 3. a fortress. archaic

   Word Origin Old Englishhaldan, healdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch houden and German halten; the noun is partly from Old Norse hald ‘hold, support, custody’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. holdable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • H

     4

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   • D

     2

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2. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishhold verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Check pronunciation: hold. Definition of hold verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryHOLD | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   to keep something in a particular position: Can you hold the door open please? Hold your hand up if you know the answer. The frame was held together with screws. They held a gun to his head. hold verb (ORGANIZE) B1. to organize an event: to hold talks /an election. hold verb (CONTAIN) B1.

4. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › holdHold - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › hold

   verb. have or hold in one's hands or grip. “ Hold this bowl for a moment, please”. “A crazy idea took hold of him”. synonyms: take hold. see more. verb. cover as for protection against noise or smell. “She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate”.

5. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › holdhold | meaning of hold in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary ...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › hold

   • Cached

   hold meaning, definition, what is hold: to have something in your hand, hands, o...: Learn more.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › holdHold Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › hold

   • Cached

   Hold definition, to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp: She held the purse in her right hand.He held the child's hand in his. See more.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryHOLD definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   May 6, 2024 · 1. transitive verb. When you hold something, you carry or support it, using your hands or your arms. Hold the knife at an angle. Synonyms: carry, keep, grip, grasp More Synonyms of hold. 2. See to grab hold of. 3. transitive verb.

8. www.wordreference.com › definition › holdhold - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

   www.wordreference.com › definition › hold

   • Cached

   hold1 /hoʊld/ v., held /hɛld/ hold•ing, n. v. to have or keep in the hand; grasp:[ ~ + object] I held her hand as we crossed the street. to bear, sustain, or support with or as if with the hands or arms:[ ~ + object] I held the baby gently. to maintain a grasp; remain together or supported:[ no object] The clamp held.