- hold*/*/*/
- [həʊld]
(past tense and past participle held [held] ) verb
I
1) [T] to carry something or someone using your hands or armsCan you hold my bag for a moment?[/ex]Barry was holding a coin between his finger and thumb.[/ex]She was holding a baby in her arms.[/ex]2) [T] to keep someone or something in a particular position so that they do not moveCan you hold this parcel for me so I can tape it up?[/ex]His silk tie was held in place with a small diamond pin.[/ex]Four people held him down (= held him on the floor so that he could not move).[/ex]3) [T] to put your arms around someone for a long time because you love them or because they are unhappyHe sat beside her and held her.[/ex]She kissed him and held him tight.[/ex]4) [T] to be able to fit an amount of something insideThe stadium holds 80, 000 people.[/ex]How much does this jug hold?[/ex]5) [T] to organize something such as a meeting or eventThe government agreed to hold a referendum.[/ex]6) [T] to have a job or positionShe is the first woman to hold this post.[/ex]President Mitterrand held office for 14 years.[/ex]7) [T] to keep someone as a prisonerThe four men had been held captive for over two years.[/ex]8) [T] to keep information, for example on a computerHis data was held on disk.[/ex]9) to stay in the same state or at the same levelThe fine weather should hold until Tuesday.[/ex]The coffee market has held steady for a few months.[/ex]10) [T] to have a particular belief or opinionShe holds some pretty unpleasant views.[/ex]Most people hold the president responsible for the riots.[/ex]Baxter holds that significant changes in the population can occur within a decade.[/ex]11) [T] to continue to have a particular feelingI no longer hold any resentment towards him.[/ex]12) [T] to keep control of somethingRebel fighters have held the territory for five years.[/ex]13) [I/T] to wait to speak to someone on the telephone‘Do you want to call back later?' ‘No, I'll hold.'[/ex]14) [T] to support the weight of someone or somethingDo you think this branch will hold us?[/ex]15) [T] formalto have a particular qualityThe project holds a great deal of promise.[/ex]He holds no authority over us.[/ex]16) [T] formalto own something or have the right to use somethingThree per cent of our shares are now held by US investors.[/ex]He holds a US passport.[/ex]•hold it — spoken 1) used for telling someone not to move[/ex][i]Just hold it right there! Where do you think you're going with that?[/ex]
— 2) used for telling someone to wait
Hold it, you two, wait for us![/ex]hold true — to be true, or to remain true[/ex]hold your own — to be as good as other more experienced or stronger people[/ex]- hold sth against sb- hold back- hold sb/sth back- hold sth down- hold off- hold sb off- hold on- hold on to sth- hold out- hold sth out- hold out for sth- hold sb to sth- hold sb/sth upIInounhold */[həʊld]1) [singular] the fact that you are holding somethingHis hold on her arm tightened.[/ex]Bobby grabbed hold of the railing (= suddenly started holding it).[/ex]She took hold of his hand (= started holding it).[/ex]2) [singular] power or control over someone or somethingThe rebels have a firm hold over the northern area.[/ex]Does he have some sort of hold on you?[/ex]3) [C] the area in a plane or ship that is used for goods, vehicles, or bags•get hold of sb — to manage to talk to someone[/ex]Can you get hold of Mike and tell him the meeting's postponed?[/ex]get hold of sth — 1) to get something that you need or want[/ex]I've managed to get hold of some rather good wine.[/ex]— 2) to start holding something with your hands
Just get hold of the aerial and move it round to see if you can get a better picture.[/ex]keep hold of sth — 1) to not take your hands away from something that you are holding[/ex]She kept hold of his arm.[/ex]— 2) to not lose something or not let someone else get it
They managed to keep hold of the ball in the second half.[/ex]on hold — 1) if something is on hold, you have stopped it from happening now, but it may happen later[/ex]After the accident her career had to be put on hold.[/ex]— 2) waiting to speak to someone on the telephone, after your call has been answered
They've put me on hold.[/ex]take hold — to become stronger and difficult to stop[/ex]They were fortunate to escape before the fire took hold.[/ex]A sense of dread took hold of him.[/ex]
Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.