hold (n.)

  1. the act of grasping; he released his clasp on my arm; he has a strong grip for an old man; she kept a firm hold on the railing

    [ Syn: clasp , clench , clutch , clutches , grasp , grip ]

  2. understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something; he has a good grasp of accounting practices

    [ Syn: appreciation , grasp ]

  3. power by which something or someone is affected or dominated; he has a hold over them'

  4. time during which some action is awaited; instant replay caused too long a delay; he ordered a hold in the action

    [ Syn: delay , time lag , postponement , wait ]

  5. a state of being confined (usually for a short time); his detention was politically motivated; the prisoner is on hold; he is in the custody of police

    [ Syn: detention , detainment , custody ]

  6. a stronghold

  7. a cell in a jail or prison

    [ Syn: keep ]

  8. the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it; he grabbed the hammer by the handle; it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip

    [ Syn: handle , grip , handgrip ]

  9. the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

    [ Syn: cargo area , cargo deck , cargo hold , storage area ]

    hold (v.)

  1. 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

    [ Syn: keep , maintain ]

  2. 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; Whats holding that mirror?

    [ Syn: support , sustain , hold up ]

  3. contain or hold; have within; The jar carries wine; The canteen holds fresh water; This can contains water

    [ Syn: bear , carry , contain ]

  4. have room for; hold without crowding; This hotel can accommodate 250 guests; The theater admits 300 people; The auditorium cant hold more than 500 people

    [ Syn: accommodate , admit ]

  5. remain in a certain state, position, or condition; The weather held; They held on the road and kept marching'

  6. support or hold in a certain manner; She holds her head high; He carried himself upright

    [ Syn: carry , bear ]

  7. be valid, applicable, or true; This theory still holds

    [ Syn: prevail , obtain ]

  8. assert or affirm; Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good'

  9. have as a major characteristic; The novel holds many surprises; The book holds in store much valuable advise'

  10. be capable of holding or containing; This box wont take all the items; The flask holds one gallon

    [ Syn: contain , take ]

  11. 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 Maxims

    [ Syn: reserve , book ]

  12. have or hold in ones hands or grip; Hold this bowl for a moment, please; A crazy idea took hold of him

    [ Syn: take hold ]

  13. protect against a challenge or attack; Hold that position behind the trees!; Hold the bridge against the enemys attacks

    [ Syn: defend , guard ]

  14. bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted; Hes held by a contract; Ill hold you by your promise

    [ Syn: oblige , bind , obligate ]

  15. hold the attention of; The soprano held the audience; This story held our interest; She can hold an audience spellbound'

  16. remain committed to; I hold to these ideas'

  17. resist or confront with resistance; The politician defied public opinion; The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear; The bridge held

    [ Syn: defy , withstand , hold up ]

  18. 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

    [ Syn: apply , go for ]

  19. stop dealing with; hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting'

  20. 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

    [ Syn: control , hold in , contain , check , curb , moderate ]

  21. keep from departing; Hold the taxi; Hold the horse'

  22. take and maintain control over, often by violent means; The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week'

  23. organize or be responsible for; hold a reception; have, throw, or make a party; give a course

    [ Syn: throw , have , make , give ]

  24. cause to stop; Halt the engines; Arrest the progress; halt the presses

    [ Syn: halt , arrest ]

  25. cover as for protection against noise or smell; She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate; hold one's nose'

  26. drink alcohol without showing ill effects; He can hold his liquor; he had drunk more than he could carry

    [ Syn: carry ]

  27. aim, point, or direct; Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames'

  28. declare to be; She was declared incompetent; judge held that the defendant was innocent

    [ Syn: declare , adjudge ]

  29. be in accord; be in agreement; We agreed on the terms of the settlement; I cant agree with you!; I hold with those who say life is sacred; Both philosophers concord on this point

    [ Syn: agree , concur , concord ]

  30. keep from exhaling or expelling; hold your breath'

  31. 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 Masters degree from Harvard

    [ Syn: have , have got ]

  32. 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

    [ Syn: deem , view as , take for ]

  33. maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); bear a grudge; entertain interesting notions; harbor a resentment

    [ Syn: harbor , harbour , entertain , nurse ]

  34. 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

    [ Syn: restrain , confine ]

  35. secure and keep for possible future use or application; The landlord retained the security deposit; I reserve the right to disagree

    [ Syn: retain , keep back , hold back ]

  36. have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices; She bears the title of Duchess; He held the governorship for almost a decade

    [ Syn: bear ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.