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hold

1 hold /ˈhoʊld/ verb
holds; held /ˈhɛld/ ; holding
1 hold
/ˈhoʊld/
verb
holds; held /ˈhɛld/ ; holding
Britannica Dictionary definition of HOLD
[+ object]
: to have or keep (something) in your hand, arms, etc.
: to put your arms around (someone) : to embrace or hug (someone)
[+ object] : to put or keep (something or someone) in a specified place or position
[+ object] : to keep (something or someone) in the same place or position
[no object] : to remain in the same place or position
[no object] : to continue to be good
[+ object]
: to own or possess (something)
: to have or keep (a job, a position, etc.)
: to succeed in keeping (something that is being attacked)
: to have (something that you have achieved or earned)
[+ object] : to support the pressure or weight of (something or someone)
[+ object]
: to have or keep (a belief, a feeling, etc.) in your mind
somewhat formal : to consider or judge (someone or something) in a specified way often + for
often followed by to + verb
not used in progressive tenses, somewhat formal : to have or express (an opinion, belief, etc.) + that
sometimes used figuratively
[+ object] : to cause (a meeting, class, sale, etc.) to take place
[+ object]
: to contain (something)
not used in progressive tenses : to have enough room for (an amount)
[+ object] : to continue to have (someone's interest or attention)
10 
[+ object] : to have (a specified quality, feature, etc.)
often + for
11 
[+ object] : to stop doing (something) or wait to do (something)
12 
[+ object]
: to keep (something) available for later use
: to delay the handling of (something, such as a telephone call) for a time
13 
[+ object] : to prevent (something, such as a vehicle) from leaving
14 
[+ object] chiefly US : to not use or include (something) in preparing food
15 
[+ object] : to force (someone) to stay in a place (such as a prison)
sometimes used figuratively
16 
[+ object] : to continue moving on (a course) without change
17 
[+ object] of a vehicle : to stay on (a road) in a safe and secure way when being driven at high speeds
18 
[no object] : to be true : to remain valid
often used in the phrases hold true and (less commonly) hold good
19 
: to wait to speak to someone on the telephone
[no object]
[+ object]

hold a candle to

see candle

hold against

[phrasal verb]
hold (something) against (someone)
: to use (something) as a reason to have a bad opinion of (someone)

hold a gun to someone's head

see 1gun

hold all the aces

see 1ace

hold (all/all of) the cards

see 1card

hold back

[phrasal verb]
: to stop yourself from doing something
: to make a less than complete effort
hold (someone) back : to stop (someone) from doing something
hold (something) back or hold back (something)
: to not allow (something) to be seen or known by someone
: to keep (something)
: to delay (something)
hold (someone or something) back or hold back (someone or something) : to stop (someone or something) from moving forward : to stop (someone or something) from advancing to the next level, grade, or stage

hold court

see 1court

hold down

[phrasal verb]
hold (something) down or hold down (something)
: to stop (something) from being or becoming too high
: to continue to have (a job)
hold (someone) down or hold down (someone) : to stop (someone) from doing something or advancing to a higher level, position, etc.

hold firm

: to refuse to change what you have been doing or believing

hold forth

[phrasal verb] formal
: to speak about something for a long time

hold hands

or hold someone's hand
see 1hand

hold in

[phrasal verb]
hold (something) in or hold in (something)
: to stop (an emotion) from being expressed

hold off

[phrasal verb]
: to wait to do something
often + on
◊ If you hold off doing something or hold off on doing something, you wait to do it at a later time.
: to not happen until later
hold (someone) off or hold off (someone) : to stop (someone) from coming near someone or something
hold (something) off or hold off (something) : to defend against (something) successfully : withstand

hold on

[phrasal verb]
: to have or keep your hand, arms, etc., tightly around something
: to succeed in keeping a position, condition, etc.
: to wait or stop briefly
hold on to (something) : to keep possession of (something)
: to not lose or give up (something)

hold out

[phrasal verb]
: to continue to exist or be available
: to continue to work
: to continue to oppose someone or defend against something : to refuse to surrender or give in
see also holdout
hold out (something) or hold (something) out
: to reach outward with (something, such as your hand)
sometimes used figuratively
: to say that there is a good reason to have (something, such as hope)
: to say that (a possibility) exists
hold out for (something) : to refuse to accept or agree to something in order to get (something)
hold out on (someone) informal : to keep something (such as information) from (someone)

hold over

[phrasal verb]
hold over (something) or hold (something) over
: to cause (something) to happen later
US : to cause (something) to continue beyond a normal or planned time
hold (something or someone) over or hold over (something or someone) : to keep (something or someone) from an earlier time
see also holdover
hold (something) over (someone) : to use your knowledge of (something) to influence or control the behavior of (someone)

hold the bag

(US) informal or British hold the baby
: to be given all of the blame or responsibility that should be shared with others

hold the fort

see fort

hold the line

see 1line

hold to

[phrasal verb]
hold to (something) : to continue to have or follow (a plan, purpose, etc.) : to not change (a decision, belief, etc.)
hold (someone) to (something) : to force (someone) to do what is required by (something, such as a promise)
hold (someone) to (something) : to prevent (an opponent) from having or getting more than (a specified number of scores or shots)

hold together

[phrasal verb]
: to stay joined together or in one piece
hold (something) together or hold together (something) : to cause (something) to stay joined together or in one piece

hold up

[phrasal verb]
: to continue in the same condition without failing or losing effectiveness or force
hold (something) up or hold up (something) : to raise (something)
hold up (something or someone) or hold (something or someone) up
: to delay, stop, or slow the movement, progress, or action of (something or someone) : delay
see also holdup
: to use a gun to rob (a person, store, etc.)
see also holdup
: to cause (someone or something) to be noticed for a particular reason

hold water

see 1water

hold with

[phrasal verb]
hold with (something)
: to agree with or approve of (something) usually used in negative statements

hold your breath

see breath

hold your ground

see 1ground

hold your horses

see 1horse

hold your liquor

see liquor

hold your nose

see 1nose

hold your own

: to do well in a difficult situation

hold your tongue

also hold your peace
: to keep silent : to not say anything about something
2 hold /ˈhoʊld/ noun
plural holds
2 hold
/ˈhoʊld/
noun
plural holds
Britannica Dictionary definition of HOLD
: the act of holding or gripping something
[count]
usually singular
[noncount]
often used figuratively
[count] : a way of holding your opponent in wrestling see also choke hold, stranglehold
[singular]
: power that is used to control something or someone
: an understanding of something usually + on
[count] : something that can be held or stepped on for support while you are climbing see also foothold, handhold, toehold
[singular] : an order that something is to be kept for a particular person or time
[count] : an area on a ship or airplane where cargo is stored

cop hold of

see 2cop

get hold of

or chiefly US get a hold of
: to get possession of (something) : to succeed in getting (something)
: to find and talk to (someone) : to contact (someone)
get hold of yourself or chiefly US get a hold of yourself : to get control of your thoughts and emotions and stop behaving in a foolish or uncontrolled way

lay hold of

: to take and hold (something) : grab
: to understand (something)

no holds barred

◊ If there are no holds barred, there are no limits or rules for what can and cannot be done in a particular situation.
see also no-holds-barred

on hold

: in the state of waiting to speak to someone on the telephone
: in the state of being delayed for a time

take hold

or chiefly US take a hold
: to become effective, established, or popular