3 entries found for hold.
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Main Entry: 1hold
Pronunciation: hld
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): held /held/; holdˇing
Etymology: Old English healdan "to hold, own" 1 a: to keep in one's possession : POSSESS, HAVE <hold this for me> b: to have by right <hold property> <hold a bachelor's degree> <hold elective office> 2 a: to keep or restrict by force <the troops held the bridge> b: to restrain especially by keeping back <hold your temper> c: 2DELAY 2 <held the train> d: to keep back from use <will hold the seats for us> e: to make accept a legal or moral duty <I'll hold you to your word> 3 a: to have or keep in the grasp <hold the pen upright> b: to cause to be or remain in a place, position, or situation <hold the ladder steady> c: to remain fastened <the anchor held> d: 1SUPPORT 4a, sustain <the floor will hold 10 metric tons> e: to keep as or as if a captive <held without bail> 4: to bear or carry oneself <please hold still> 5 a: to keep up without interruption <hold silence> b: to keep the interest or devotion of <the play held the audience> 6: to receive and contain <the bottle holds two liters> 7 a: to have in mind : ENTERTAIN <hold a theory> b: CONSIDER 3, judge <was held to be the best> 8: to carry on as a group <hold a meeting> 9 a: to maintain position <the line held under attack> b: to continue unchanged : LAST <their interest held up> <hope the weather holds> 10: to be true : APPLY <the rule holds in most cases> 11: to refrain from an act : HALT, PAUSE synonym see CONTAIN - hold a candle to: to compare with <doesn't hold a candle to the original> - hold forth: to preach or speak in public usually for a long time - hold good: to remain true <the rule holds good in this case> - hold hands: to join one's hand with another's especially as an expression of affection - hold one's breath 1: to prevent oneself from breathing temporarily 2: to wait in anxious anticipation - hold one's own: to maintain one's place or condition especially against opposition - hold one's tongueor hold one's peace: to keep one's thoughts to oneself : keep silent - hold the bag 1: to be left empty-handed 2: to get the blame that should be shared by others - hold to: to adhere to strongly <held to his promise> - hold water: to stand up under criticism or examination <your story doesn't hold water> - hold with: to agree with : approve of