Overview of noun holding

The noun holding has 2 senses

• retention, keeping, holding -- (the act of retaining something)


• property, belongings, holding -- (something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone; "that hat is my property"; "he is a man of property";)

Overview of verb hold

The verb hold has 36 senses

• keep, maintain, hold -- (keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"; "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes")


• hold, take hold -- (have or hold in one's hands or grip; "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of him")


• hold, throw, have, make, give -- (organize or be responsible for; "hold a reception"; "have, throw, or make a party"; "give a course")


• have, have got, hold -- (have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense; "She has $1,000 in the bank"; "He has got two beautiful daughters"; "She holds a Master's degree from Harvard")


• deem, hold, view as, take for -- (keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view; "take for granted"; "view as important"; "hold these truths to be self-evident"; "I hold him personally responsible")


• harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurse -- (maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment")


• restrain, confine, hold -- (to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement; "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "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")


• retain, hold, keep back, hold back -- (secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree")


• bear, hold -- (have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices; "She bears the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a decade")


• hold, support, sustain, hold up -- (be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?")


• hold, bear, carry, contain -- (contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water")


• accommodate, hold, admit -- (have room for; hold without crowding; "This hotel can accommodate 250 guests"; "The theater admits 300 people"; "The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people")


• hold -- (remain in a certain state, position, or condition; "The weather held"; "They held on the road and kept marching")


• hold, carry, bear -- (support or hold in a certain manner; "She holds her head high"; "He carried himself upright")


• prevail, hold, obtain -- (be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds")


• hold -- (assert or affirm; "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good")


• hold -- (have as a major characteristic; "The novel holds many surprises"; "The book holds in store much valuable advise")


• contain, take, hold -- (be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon")


• reserve, hold, book -- (arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance; "reserve me a seat on a flight"; "The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family"; "please hold a table at Maxim's")


• defend, guard, hold -- (protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks")


• oblige, bind, hold, obligate -- (bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted; "He's held by a contract"; "I'll hold you by your promise")


• hold -- (hold the attention of; "The soprano held the audience"; "This story held our interest"; "She can hold an audience spellbound")


• hold -- (remain committed to; "I hold to these ideas")


• defy, withstand, hold, hold up -- (resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held")


• apply, hold, go for -- (be pertinent or relevant or applicable; "The same laws apply to you!"; "This theory holds for all irrational numbers"; "The same rules go for everyone")


• hold -- (stop dealing with; "hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting")


• control, hold in, hold, contain, check, curb, moderate -- (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger")


• hold -- (keep from departing; "Hold the taxi"; "Hold the horse")


• hold -- (take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week")


• halt, hold, arrest -- (cause to stop; "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses")


• hold -- (cover as for protection against noise or smell; "She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate"; "hold one's nose")


• carry, hold -- (drink alcohol without showing ill effects; "He can hold his liquor"; "he had drunk more than he could carry")


• hold -- (aim, point, or direct; "Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames")


• declare, adjudge, hold -- (declare to be; "She was declared incompetent"; "judge held that the defendant was innocent")


• agree, hold, concur, concord -- (be in accord; be in agreement; "We agreed on the terms of the settlement"; "I can't agree with you!"; "I hold with those who say life is sacred"; "Both philosophers concord on this point")


• hold -- (keep from exhaling or expelling; "hold your breath")