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   hold

   /həʊld/

   verb

   • 1. grasp, carry, or support with one's hands: "she was holding a brown leather suitcase" Similar clasphold on toclutchgraspgripclenchcling 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 which 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 south-easterly 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 aliveoccupyengrossabsorbinterestcaptivatefascinateenthralrivetmonopolizeengagecatchcapturegriparrestOpposite lose
   • ▪ (of a singer or musician) sustain (a note).
   • ▪ stay or cause to stay at a certain value or level: "MCI shares held at 77p"
   • ▪ (in sport) manage to achieve a draw against (opponents thought likely to win): "AC Milan were held to a 1–1 draw by Udinese"
   • 3. remain secure, intact, or in position without breaking or giving way: "the boat's anchor would not hold"
   • ▪ (of a favourable 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 drink 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 (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 Appeal held that there was no evidence to support the judge's assessment"
   • 6. keep or reserve for someone: "a booking can be held for twenty-four hours"
   • ▪ maintain (a phone connection) until the person one has called is free to speak: "please hold the line, 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"
   • ▪ wait or stop doing something: informal "hold it right there, mate!"
   • ▪ 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: "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. People also ask

   What does hold up mean?

   • Hold up means the same as hold 1. Democrats say arguments against the bill won't hold up. [VERB PARTICLE] If part of a structure holds, it does not fall or break although there is a lot of force or pressure on it. How long would the roof hold? [VERB] If laws or rules hold, they exist and remain in force. These laws also hold for universities.

   HOLD definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What does it mean to hold someone in your hand?

   • [transitive] to have somebody/something in your hand, arms, etc. hold somebody/something She was holding a large box. They were holding hands (= the right hand of one person holding the left hand of the other). hold somebody/something + adv./prep. I held the mouse by its tail. The girl held her father's hand tightly.

   hold verb | Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

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   What does hold mean?

   • Get a quick, free translation! HOLD definition: 1. to take and keep something in your hand or arms: 2. to support something: 3. When two people…. Learn more.

   HOLD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

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   Is hold a noun or adverb?

   • Hold is also a noun. He released his hold on the camera. 2. When you hold someone, you put your arms round them, usually because you want to show them how much you like them or because you want to comfort them. If only he would hold her close to him. [VERB noun adverb]

   HOLD definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHOLD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

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4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › holdHold Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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5. www.dictionary.com › browse › holdHOLD Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishHOLD definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   Learn the meaning and usage of the word 'hold' in different contexts, such as verbs, nouns, and expressions. Find synonyms, pronunciation, grammar, and examples of 'hold' in sentences.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › english-word › holdHOLD - Find out everything about this English word | Collins

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   Learn everything about the English word HOLD, from its meanings and usage to its synonyms and pronunciation. Find out how to use HOLD in different contexts, such as finance, grammar, and idioms, and see examples and translations.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionhold verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

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   a person cannot be prevented from doing something. Once she gets on to the subject of politics there's no holding her. Definition of hold verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

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

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   verb. be the physical support of; carry the weight of. “The beam holds up the roof” “What's holding that mirror?” synonyms: hold up, support, sustain. see more. verb. support or hold in a certain manner. “She holds her head high” synonyms: bear, carry. see more.