verb | noun
holdhold1 /hoʊld/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle held /hɛld/) 1
IN YOUR HANDS/ARMS a)[transitive] to have something firmly in your hands or arms: Hold my books for a minute, will you?hold something in your hand/arms I held the baby in my arms. Two little girls walked by, holding hands (=holding each other’s hands). b)[transitive always + adv./prep.] to move your hand or something in your hand in a particular direction: hold something up/toward/out etc. He held out his hand to help her to her feet. Hold up the picture so everyone can see it.THESAURUSgrip – to hold something very tightly: I gripped the rail and tried not to look down.clutch – to hold something tightly, especially something you think might be taken away from you: She was clutching a letter in her hand.clasp – to hold someone or something tightly, especially someone’s hands: The old couple clasped hands and began to dance.cling – to hold on to someone or something tightly, especially because you are frightened: The little boy was clinging to his mother’s skirt and crying.catch/take/get (a) hold of something – to take something in your hands and hold it tightly: Catch hold of the rope and pull.keep (a) hold of something – to continue to hold something: He kept a hold of her hand the whole way.carry – to hold something as you move, especially something large or heavy: She was carrying a large box in her hands.grab (hold of) something (also seize formal) – to take hold of someone or something suddenly or violently: He grabbed the bag and ran.grasp – to take and hold something firmly in your hands: I grasped his arm and led him away.2hold somebody close [transitive] to put your arms around someone to show your love, give comfort, etc.: I just wanted my mother to hold me.hold somebody close/tight Max held her close and wiped away the tears.► see thesaurus at hug13KEEP something IN POSITION [transitive always + adv./prep.] to make something stay in a particular position: hold something down/up/open etc. Martin held the door open for her. She held her hands out to keep from bumping into anything. Short posts will hold the rails in place. Try to hold this position for a count of ten.4HAVE SPACE FOR [transitive not in progressive] to have the space to contain a particular amount of something: Each carton holds 113 oranges. The tank should hold enough water to last a few days.5job/title/record [transitive] a)to have a particular job or position, an important one: Less than 4% of top business jobs are held by women. Birnbaum holds a doctorate in physics. The president holds office for four years. b)to have a particular title or record, because you have won a competition, are the best at something, etc.: The program holds the record for the longest running TV series. He held the world title until he lost to Holyfield.6EVENT [transitive] to have a meeting, party, etc. in a particular place or at a particular time: The competition is held in Jackson every four years. Classes were held in the auditorium. In April, the president held talks with Chinese leaders.7OWN something [transitive] to own or possess something, especially money, land, a document, etc.: IBM holds shares in the new company. It is a privately held company.8KEEP somebody SOMEWHERE [transitive] to keep a person or animal in a place where he, she, or it cannot leave SYN detain: Police are holding two men in connection with the shooting. Nobody will be held against their will (=made to stay when they do not want to).hold somebody hostage/captive They were held hostage for four months. The animals are held in large enclosures.9keep something available for somebody [transitive] to save a place, room, ticket, etc. for someone until the time when he or she can use it SYN reserve: The library will hold the book for you for two weeks.hold a place/reservation/room etc. I’ve asked them to hold a table for 12 people, okay?10support weight [intransitive, transitive] to be strong enough to support the weight of something SYN bear: The branch held, and Nick climbed higher. Will the ice hold your weight?11KEEP/CONTAIN [transitive] to keep or contain something so it can be used or gotten later: Lost items will be held for 30 days.12AMOUNT/LEVEL [intransitive, transitive] to continue at a particular amount, level, or rate, or to make something do this: Traders thought gold would hold at $350 an ounce. His approval rating is holding steady at 53 percent.13opinion [transitive not in progressive, usually passive] formal to have a particular opinion or belief: Experts hold varying opinions as to the cause of the disease.hold that Buddhism holds that the state of existence is suffering.be widely/generally/commonly held They challenged the widely held belief that losing weight improves your health.14court [transitive not in progressive] if a court or judge holds that something is true, they decide that something is true: be held to be something The law was held to be unconstitutional.hold that The judge held that the police had acted illegally.15hold somebody’s interest/attention to make someone continue being interested in something: Storytellers held the children’s interest.16hold somebody responsible/accountable/liable to consider someone to be responsible for something so that he or she will be blamed if anything bad happens: hold for I can’t be held responsible for what Floyd does.SPOKEN PHRASES17hold it! (also hold everything!) a)used to interrupt someone: Hold it a minute! I’ve just had a really good idea. b)used to tell someone to wait or to stop doing something: Hold it! Sara just lost a contact lens.18telephone [intransitive] (also hold the line) to wait until the person you have telephoned is ready to answer: Thank you for calling Society Bank – can you hold please?19hold your horses! used to tell someone to wait or to do something more slowly and carefully20hold your fire! a military order used to tell soldiers to stop shooting21not change [intransitive] to continue to be true, effective, good, etc.: What I said yesterday still holds.hold true/good If past experience holds true, about 10% of the injured will need immediate surgery.weather/luck holds (out) If our luck holds, we could reach the playoffs. As long as the mild weather holds, you can keep planting.22stop/not include [transitive] to not include something that is usually included, or stop doing something that is usually done: A roast beef sandwich, please – hold the mayo.23MUSIC [transitive] to make a musical note continue for a long time24ARMY [transitive] if an army holds a place, it controls it or defends it from attack: The French army held the town for three days.25hold the lead/advantage to be winning in a competition, game, etc.: Johnson held the lead throughout the race.26hold your own to defend yourself, or to succeed, in a difficult situation: Colman held his own against Miller, one of the league’s toughest players.27hold fast to something formal to keep believing strongly in an idea or principle, or keep doing something in spite of difficulties: Jackson urged the Democrats to hold fast to their traditions.28be left holding the bag to become responsible for something that someone else has started, whether you want to be or not29hold the fort to be responsible for taking care of something, while the person usually responsible is not there: The three of you will be holding the fort in the kitchen tonight.30THE FUTURE [transitive] formal if the future holds something, that is what may happen: Who knows what the future holds? Learning computer skills holds the promise of better jobs.31have a quality [transitive] formal to have a particular quality: hold interest/appeal etc. The program held little appeal for most children.32hold something dear to feel that something is very important: Everything I held dear was destroyed in the war.33not hold water if an argument, statement, etc. does not hold water, it is not true or reasonable: His explanation just didn’t hold water.34hold sway to have a lot of influence or power: Hutton’s geographical theories held sway for many years.35hold a conversation to have a conversation36hold your head up/high to show pride or confidence in a difficult situation: I can hold my head high because I know that I am innocent.37not hold a candle to somebody/something informal to be much worse than someone or something else: Dry herbs don’t hold a candle to fresh ones.38hold all the cards to have a strong advantage in a situation where people are arguing or competing: Politically, the logging industry holds all the cards.39hold the road if a car holds the road well, you can drive it quickly around bends without losing control40can hold your alcohol/liquor to be able to drink a lot of alcohol without becoming drunk41there’s no holding somebody (back) used to say that someone is so determined to do something that you cannot prevent him or her from doing it: For Casey, there was no holding back when it came to music.42hold a course if an aircraft, ship, storm, etc. holds a course, it continues to move in a particular direction[Origin: Old English healdan] → see also hold your breath at breath (2), hold court at court1 (5), hold a grudge at grudge1 (1), hold your tongue at tongue1 (10)hold something against somebody phrasal verb to continue to dislike someone or not forgive someone because of something bad that he or she has done in the past: He had been awful to her, but she didn’t seem to hold it against him.hold back phrasal verb1 hold somebody/something ↔ back to make someone or something stop moving forward: Police in riot gear held back the demonstrators.2 hold something ↔ back to stop yourself from feeling or showing a particular emotion: Nancy tried to hold back the tears. They don’t hold anything back when they’re on stage.3 hold somebody/something ↔ back to prevent someone or something from developing or improving: The housing market is being held back by a weak economy.4 hold somebody/something ↔ back to be slow or unwilling to do something, especially because you are being careful, or to make someone unwilling to do something: Trading was light as many investors held back. She wanted to tell him, but pride held her back.5 hold something ↔ back to keep something secret SYN withhold: He held back important information about his background.hold somebody/something down phrasal verb1hold somebody/something ↔ down to make someone or something stay in a position and not be able to move away: The edges of the tipis are held down by rocks. It took three police officers to hold him down.2hold something ↔ down to prevent the level of something such as prices from rising: Employees are asked to help hold down costs.3hold down a job to succeed in keeping a job for a period of time: Clarke holds down two jobs to support his family.4hold somebody ↔ down to keep people under control or limit their freedom: The treaty is meant to help people, not hold them down.hold forth phrasal verb give your opinion on a subject, especially for a long time: hold forth on The speaker was holding forth on the collapse of modern society.hold off phrasal verb1 hold something ↔ off to delay something: hold off (on) doing something Businesses are holding off on hiring new employees.2 hold somebody ↔ off to prevent someone who is trying to attack you or defeat you from succeeding: The Pittsburgh Pirates held off New York 10–8.3hold somebody ↔ off to prevent someone from coming toward you or succeeding in speaking to you: There’s a crowd of reporters outside – I’ll try to hold them off.4 if rain or snow holds off, none of it falls, although you thought it wouldhold on phrasal verb1hold on! spoken a)said when you want someone to wait or stop talking for a short time, for example during a telephone call: Could you hold on, please, while I transfer you. Hold on a minute. Let me put this in the car. b)used when you have just noticed something surprising: Hold on, who’s that in the picture?2to hold something tightly with your hand or arms: Okay, hold on tight!hold on to She can walk now without holding on to anything.3to continue doing something when it is very difficult to do so: How long will good teachers like her hold on?hold on to somebody/something phrasal verb to keep something or someone so that he, she, or it does not leave or get taken away: Can you hold on to those tickets for me? Schools must try to hold on to all students until graduation.hold out phrasal verb1 if something such as a supply of something holds out, there is still some left: We stayed as long as the wine held out.2 to continue to defend a place that is being attacked: For ten weeks the troops have held out against mortar attacks.3 to try to prevent yourself from doing something that someone is trying to force you to do: hold out against I didn’t know if I could hold out against their questioning.4 hold something ↔ out to think or say that something is possible or likely to happen, especially something good: not hold out much hope/hold out little hope Authorities held out little hope of finding more survivors.hold out the prospect/promise of something The treatment holds out the promise of improved health.hold out for something phrasal verb to not accept anything less than what you have asked for: Some house sellers are still holding out for higher offers.hold out on somebody phrasal verb informal to refuse to give someone information that he or she needs: Why didn’t you tell me right away instead of holding out on me?hold over phrasal verb1be held over if a play, movie, concert, etc. is held over, it is shown for longer than planned, because it is very popular2hold something over somebody to threaten to do something to someone if he or she does not do something you want: The company gives money to schools without holding anything over their heads (=without making them promise to do anything in particular).3hold something over to do or deal with something at a later date: The House committee plans to hold the bill over until next week. → see also holdoverhold somebody to something phrasal verb1to make someone do what he or she has promised: “I’ll ask him tomorrow.” “All right, but I’m going to hold you to that.”2to prevent your opponent in a sports game from getting more than a particular number of points: Louisiana Tech held the Cougars to a 3–3 tie in the first quarter.hold together phrasal verb1hold something together if a group or organization holds together or you hold it together, it stays strong and does not break apart: hold something together It’s love that holds this family together.2to remain whole, without breaking or separating, or to make something do this: Stir in milk just until the dough holds together.hold something together Strong ropes held the raft together.hold up phrasal verb1hold somebody/something ↔ up to support someone or something and stop him, her, or it from falling down: The roof is held up by huge stone pillars.2hold somebody/something ↔ up to delay someone or something: The cotton harvest has been held up by rain. Sorry I’m late – I was held up at work.3hold up something to rob or try to rob a place while using a weapon SYN rob, stick up: Two men held up a jewelry store downtown. → see also holdup4 to remain strong or in good condition: I’m surprised by how well this car has held up.hold somebody/something up as something phrasal verb to use someone or something as an example: The school has been held up as a model for others. verb | noun
holdhold2 ●●● S1 W2 noun 1HOLDING something [singular] the action of holding something tightly with your hands SYN grasp: Kara tightened her hold on the bat.have/keep hold of something Keep hold of my hand when we cross the road.grab/seize/catch hold of something (=start holding something quickly and firmly) Grab hold of the rope and pull yourself up. I took hold of (=started holding) her hand and gently led her away. → see also grip1 (1)2get (a) hold of somebody spoken to manage to speak to someone for a particular reason: Four-thirty would be the best time to get a hold of me.3get (a) hold of something spoken to find or borrow something: I need to get hold of a car. She got hold of a copy before it was published.4on hold a)if someone is on hold, he or she is waiting to talk to someone on the telephone: Do you mind if I put you on hold? b)if something is on hold, it is going to be done or dealt with at a later date rather than now: The deal is on hold while lawyers look into it. She has put her career on hold to help her husband campaign for president.5control/power [singular] control, power, or influence over something or someone: Yeltsin’s hold over the Russian Parliament became weaker.get/keep (a) hold on/of something He struggled to get hold of his emotions. I keep a tight hold on our finances. The book has always had a curious hold over me.6take hold to start to have an effect: The fever was beginning to take hold.7get hold of an idea/impression/story etc. informal to learn or begin to believe something: Where on earth did you get hold of that idea?8no holds barred used to say that there are no rules or limits in a situation: It seems there are no holds barred when it comes to making a profit.9SPORTS/fight [countable] a particular position that you hold an opponent in, in a fight or in a sport such as wrestling or judo10CLIMBING [countable] somewhere you can put your hands or feet when you are climbing: The cliff is steep and it’s difficult to find a hold.11SHIP [countable] the part of a ship below the deck where goods are stored