Definition Definition

hold - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'hold' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Hold [ n.]
- The whole interior portion of a vessel below the lower deck, in which the cargo is stowed.
- The act of holding, as in or with the hands or arms; the manner of holding, whether firm or loose; seizure; grasp; clasp; gripe; possession; -- often used with the verbs take and lay.
- The authority or ground to take or keep; claim.
- Binding power and influence.
- Something that may be grasped; means of support.
- A place of confinement; a prison; confinement; custody; guard.
- A place of security; a fortified place; a fort; a castle; -- often called a stronghold.
- A character [thus /] placed over or under a note or rest, and indicating that it is to be prolonged; -- called also pause, and corona.
2 . Hold [ n. i.]
- In general, to keep one's self in a given position or condition; to remain fixed. Hence:
- Not to more; to halt; to stop;-mostly in the imperative.
- Not to give way; not to part or become separated; to remain unbroken or unsubdued.
- Not to fail or be found wanting; to continue; to last; to endure a test or trial; to abide; to persist.
- Not to fall away, desert, or prove recreant; to remain attached; to cleave;-often with with, to, or for.
- To restrain one's self; to refrain.
- To derive right or title; -- generally with of.
3 . Hold [ v. t.]
- To cause to remain in a given situation, position, or relation, within certain limits, or the like; to prevent from falling or escaping; to sustain; to restrain; to keep in the grasp; to retain.
- To retain in one's keeping; to maintain possession of, or authority over; not to give up or relinquish; to keep; to defend.
- To have; to possess; to be in possession of; to occupy; to derive title to; as, to hold office.
- To impose restraint upon; to limit in motion or action; to bind legally or morally; to confine; to restrain.
- To maintain in being or action; to carry on; to prosecute, as a course of conduct or an argument; to continue; to sustain.
- To prosecute, have, take, or join in, as something which is the result of united action; as to, hold a meeting, a festival, a session, etc.; hence, to direct and bring about officially; to conduct or preside at; as, the general held a council of war; a judge holds a court; a clergyman holds a service.
- To receive and retain; to contain as a vessel; as, this pail holds milk; hence, to be able to receive and retain; to have capacity or containing power for.
- To accept, as an opinion; to be the adherent of, openly or privately; to persist in, as a purpose; to maintain; to sustain.
- To consider; to regard; to esteem; to account; to think; to judge.
- To bear, carry, or manage; as he holds himself erect; he holds his head high.

Meaning of 'hold' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . hold [ n]
Meaning (1):
- the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
Example in sentence:
  • he grabbed the hammer by the handle;
  • it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip
Meaning (2):
- understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
Example in sentence:
  • he has a good grasp of accounting practices
Meaning (3):
- power by which something or someone is affected or dominated
Example in sentence:
  • he has a hold over them
Meaning (4):
- the act of grasping
Example in sentence:
  • he has a strong grip for an old man;
  • he released his clasp on my arm;
  • she kept a firm hold on the railing
Meaning (5):
- a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
Example in sentence:
  • he is in the custody of police;
  • his detention was politically motivated;
  • the prisoner is on hold
Meaning (6):
- time during which some action is awaited
Example in sentence:
  • he ordered a hold in the action;
  • instant replay caused too long a delay
7 . hold [ v]
Meaning (7):
- have or hold in one's hands or grip
Example in sentence:
  • A crazy idea took hold of him;
  • Hold this bowl for a moment, please
Meaning (8):
- to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement
Example in sentence:
  • About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade;
  • The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center;
  • The terrorists held the journalists for ransom;
  • This holds the local until the express passengers change trains
Meaning (9):
- cause to stop
Example in sentence:
  • Arrest the progress;
  • Halt the engines;
  • halt the presses;
  • stop a car;
  • stop the thief
Meaning (10):
- maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
Example in sentence:
  • bear a grudge;
  • entertain interesting notions;
  • harbor a resentment
Meaning (11):
- be in accord; be in agreement
Example in sentence:
  • Both philosophers concord on this point;
  • I can't agree with you!;
  • I hold with those who say life is sacred;
  • We agreed on the terms of the settlement
Meaning (12):
- lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
Example in sentence:
  • control your anger;
  • hold your temper;
  • hold your tongue;
  • moderate your alcohol intake
Meaning (13):
- organize or be responsible for
Example in sentence:
  • give a course;
  • have, throw, or make a party;
  • hold a reception
Meaning (14):
- drink alcohol without showing ill effects
Example in sentence:
  • He can hold his liquor;
  • he had drunk more than he could carry
Meaning (15):
- support or hold in a certain manner
Example in sentence:
  • He carried himself upright;
  • She holds her head high
Meaning (16):
- have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
Example in sentence:
  • He has got two beautiful daughters;
  • She has $1,000 in the bank;
  • She holds a Master's degree from Harvard
Meaning (17):
- have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices
Example in sentence:
  • He held the governorship for almost a decade;
  • She bears the title of Duchess
Meaning (18):
- be the physical support of; carry the weight of
Example in sentence:
  • He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam;
  • The beam holds up the roof;
  • What's holding that mirror?
Meaning (19):
- bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
Example in sentence:
  • He's held by a contract;
  • I'll hold you by your promise
Meaning (20):
- stop dealing with
Example in sentence:
  • hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting
Meaning (21):
- cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., `keep clean'
Example in sentence:
  • hold in place;
  • She always held herself as a lady;
  • The students keep me on my toes
Meaning (22):
- cover as for protection against noise or smell
Example in sentence:
  • hold one's nose;
  • She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate
Meaning (23):
- protect against a challenge or attack
Example in sentence:
  • Hold that position behind the trees!;
  • Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks
Meaning (24):
- aim, point, or direct
Example in sentence:
  • Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames
Meaning (25):
- keep from departing
Example in sentence:
  • Hold the horse;
  • Hold the taxi
Meaning (26):
- keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
Example in sentence:
  • hold these truths to be self-evident;
  • I hold him personally responsible;
  • take for granted;
  • view as important
Meaning (27):
- keep from exhaling or expelling
Example in sentence:
  • hold your breath
Meaning (28):
- remain committed to
Example in sentence:
  • I hold to these ideas
Meaning (29):
- secure and keep for possible future use or application
Example in sentence:
  • I reserve the right to disagree;
  • The landlord retained the security deposit
Meaning (30):
- declare to be
Example in sentence:
  • judge held that the defendant was innocent;
  • She was declared incompetent
Meaning (31):
- arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance
Example in sentence:
  • please hold a table at Maxim's;
  • reserve me a seat on a flight;
  • The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family
Meaning (32):
- assert or affirm
Example in sentence:
  • Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good
Meaning (33):
- hold the attention of
Example in sentence:
  • She can hold an audience spellbound;
  • The soprano held the audience;
  • This story held our interest
Meaning (34):
- have room for; hold without crowding
Example in sentence:
  • The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people;
  • The theater admits 300 people;
  • This hotel can accommodate 250 guests
Meaning (35):
- have as a major characteristic
Example in sentence:
  • The book holds in store much valuable advise;
  • The novel holds many surprises
Meaning (36):
- resist or confront with resistance
Example in sentence:
  • The bridge held;
  • The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear;
  • The politician defied public opinion
Meaning (37):
- contain or hold; have within
Example in sentence:
  • The canteen holds fresh water;
  • The jar carries wine;
  • This can contains water
Meaning (38):
- take and maintain control over, often by violent means
Example in sentence:
  • The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week
Meaning (39):
- be capable of holding or containing
Example in sentence:
  • The flask holds one gallon;
  • This box won't take all the items
Meaning (40):
- be pertinent or relevant or applicable
Example in sentence:
  • The same laws apply to you!;
  • The same rules go for everyone;
  • This theory holds for all irrational numbers
Meaning (41):
- remain in a certain state, position, or condition
Example in sentence:
  • The weather held;
  • They held on the road and kept marching
Meaning (42):
- be valid, applicable, or true
Example in sentence:
  • This theory still holds

Nearby Words:

hol holaspidean holcad holdback holden holder holder-forth holdfast holding hole

See 'hold' also in:

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