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.

to set aside; reserve or retain

to hold merchandise until called for; to hold a reservation.

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-donehold the pickle.

to remain or continue in a specified state, relation, etc.

Hold still while I take your picture.

to remain fast; adhere; cling

Will this button hold?

to keep or maintain a grasp on something.

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

to agree or side (usually fol. by with )

to hold with new methods.

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

to remain attached, faithful, or steadfast (usually fol. 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).

an act of holding fast by a grasp of the hand or by some other physical means; grasp; grip

Take hold. Do you have a hold on the rope?

something to hold a thing by, as a handle; something to grasp, esp. for support.

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. ?

hold back,

to restrain or check

Police held back the crowd.

to retain possession of; keep back

He held back ten dollars.

to refrain from revealing; withhold

to hold back information.

to refrain from participating or engaging in some activity

He held back from joining in the singing because he felt depressed.

Photography . dodge (def. 2).

hold down,

to restrain; check

Hold down that noise!

to continue to hold and manage well

She held down that job for years.

hold forth,

to extend or offer; propose.

to talk at great length; harangue

When we left, he was still holding forth on World War II.

hold in,

to restrain; check; curb.

to contain oneself; exercise restraint

He was raging inside, but held himself in for fear of saying something he would regret.

hold off,

to keep at a distance; resist; repel.

to postpone action; defer

If you hold off applying for a passport, you may not get one in time.

hold on,

to keep a firm grip on.

to keep going; continue.

to maintain, as one's opinion or position.

to stop; halt (usually used imperatively)

Hold on now! That isn't what I meant at all.

to keep a telephone connection open by not hanging up the receiver

The operator asked us to hold on while the number we'd dialed was being checked.

hold out,

to present; offer.

to stretch forth; extend

Hold out your hand.

to continue to exist; last

Will the food hold out?

to refuse to yield or submit

The defenders held out for weeks.

to withhold something expected or due

He was suspected of holding out information important to the case.

hold over,

to keep for future consideration or action; postpone.

to remain in possession or in office beyond the regular term.

to remain beyond the arranged period

The movie was held over for a week.

Music . to prolong (a tone) from one measure to the next.

hold up,

to offer; give

She held up his father as an example to follow.

to present to notice; expose

to hold someone up to ridicule.

to hinder; delay

The plane's departure was held up because of the storm.

to stop by force in order to rob.

to support; uphold

to hold up farm prices.

to stop; halt

They held up at the gate.

to maintain one's position or condition; endure

They held up through all their troubles.

hold with,

to be in agreement with; concur with

I don't hold with his pessimistic views.

to approve of; condone

They won't hold with such a travesty of justice.

get hold of

to get a hold on

Get hold of the railing.

to communicate with, esp. by telephone

If she's not at home, try to get hold of her at the office.

hold one's own. own ( def. 9 ) .

hold one's peace. peace ( def. 14 ) .

hold one's tongue. tongue ( def. 33 ) .

hold water. water ( def. 36 ) .

no holds barred, without limits, rules

or restraints.

on hold

in or into a state of temporary interruption or suspension

The project will be put on hold until funds become available.

Telecommunications . in or into a state of temporary interruption in a telephone connection

I'm putting you on hold to answer another call. Compare call waiting

verb

hold