Collins English-English Dictionary

hold [həυld]

1. 1. vb to have or keep (an object) with or within the hands, arms, etc; clasp

2. 2. vt. [tr] to support or bear

   to hold a drowning man's head above water

3. 3. vt. to maintain or be maintained in a specified state or condition

   to hold one's emotions in check

   hold firm

4. 4. vt. [tr] to set aside or reserve

   they will hold our tickets until tomorrow

5. 5. vt. [when intr, usually used in commands] to restrain or be restrained from motion, action, departure, etc

   hold that man until the police come

6. 6. vi. [intr] to remain fast or unbroken

   that cable won't hold much longer

7. 7. vi. [intr] (of the weather) to remain dry and bright

   how long will the weather hold?

8. 8. vt. [tr] to keep the attention of

   her singing held the audience

9. 9. vt. [tr] to engage in or carry on

   to hold a meeting

10. 10. vt. [tr] to have the ownership, possession, etc, of

    he holds a law degree from London

    who's holding the ace of spades?

11. 11. vt. [tr] to have the use of or responsibility for

    to hold the office of director

12. 12. vt. [tr] to have the space or capacity for

    the carton will hold only eight books

13. 13. vt. [tr] to be able to control the outward effects of drinking beer, spirits, etc

    he can hold his drink well

14. 14. vt. [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

15. 15. vt. [tr; takes a clause as object] to claim

    he holds that the theory is incorrect

16. 16. vi. [intr] to remain relevant, valid, or true

    the old philosophies don't hold nowadays

17. 17. vt. [tr] to keep in the mind

    to hold affection for someone

18. 18. vt. [tr] to regard or consider in a specified manner

    I hold him very dear

19. 19. vt. [tr] to guard or defend successfully

    hold the fort against the attack

20. 20. vi. [intr] to continue to go

    hold on one's way

21. 21. vi. [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

22. 22. vt. [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

23. 23. vt. [tr] to be in possession of illegal drugs

24. 24. n the act or method of holding fast or grasping, as with the hands

25. 25. n something to hold onto, as for support or control

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

27. 27. n controlling force or influence

    she has a hold on him

28. 28. n a short delay or pause

29. 29. n a prison or a cell in a prison

30. 30. n [wrestling] a way of seizing one's opponent

    a wrist hold

31. 31. n [music] a pause or fermata

32. 32. n a tenure or holding, esp of land

33. 33. n (in combination)

    leasehold

    freehold

    copyhold

34. 34. n a container

35. 35. n [Archaic] a fortified place

36. 36. n See also hold back hold down hold forth hold in hold off hold on hold out hold over hold together hold-up hold with

37. 37. n [Etymology] Old English healdan; related to Old Norse halla, Gothic haldan, German halten

hold [həυld]

1. 1. n the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

2. 2. n [Etymology] C16: variant of hole