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Valid in these dictionaries

  • TWL/NWL (Scrabble US/CA/TH)
  • SOWPODS/CSW (Scrabble UK / ALL)
  • ENABLE (Words with Friends)

Meaning of hold

1 definition found

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  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}, {hold}]
      2: understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or
         magnitude of something; "he has a good grasp of accounting
         practices" [syn: {appreciation}, {grasp}, {hold}]
      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}, {hold}, {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}, {hold}, {custody}]
      6: a stronghold
      7: a cell in a jail or prison [syn: {hold}, {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}, {hold}]
      9: the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo [syn:
         {cargo area}, {cargo deck}, {cargo hold}, {hold}, {storage
         area}]
      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}, {hold}]
      2: have or hold in one's hands or grip; "Hold this bowl for a
         moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of him" [syn:
         {hold}, {take hold}] [ant: {let go}, {let go of}, {release},
         {relinquish}]
      3: organize or be responsible for; "hold a reception"; "have,
         throw, or make a party"; "give a course" [syn: {hold},
         {throw}, {have}, {make}, {give}]
      4: 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" [syn:
         {have}, {have got}, {hold}]
      5: 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},
         {hold}, {view as}, {take for}]
      6: maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); "bear a grudge";
         "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment" [syn:
         {harbor}, {harbour}, {hold}, {entertain}, {nurse}]
      7: 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}, {hold}]
      8: secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The
         landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right
         to disagree" [syn: {retain}, {hold}, {keep back}, {hold
         back}]
      9: have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices; "She bears
         the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a
         decade" [syn: {bear}, {hold}]
      10: 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?" [syn:
          {hold}, {support}, {sustain}, {hold up}]
      11: contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The
          canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water" [syn:
          {hold}, {bear}, {carry}, {contain}]
      12: 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" [syn:
          {accommodate}, {hold}, {admit}]
      13: remain in a certain state, position, or condition; "The
          weather held"; "They held on the road and kept marching"
      14: support or hold in a certain manner; "She holds her head
          high"; "He carried himself upright" [syn: {hold}, {carry},
          {bear}]
      15: be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds"
          [syn: {prevail}, {hold}, {obtain}]
      16: assert or affirm; "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people
          are inherently good"
      17: have as a major characteristic; "The novel holds many
          surprises"; "The book holds in store much valuable advise"
      18: be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take
          all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon" [syn:
          {contain}, {take}, {hold}]
      19: 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" [syn: {reserve}, {hold}, {book}]
      20: protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position
          behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's
          attacks" [syn: {defend}, {guard}, {hold}]
      21: bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted; "He's held by a
          contract"; "I'll hold you by your promise" [syn: {oblige},
          {bind}, {hold}, {obligate}]
      22: hold the attention of; "The soprano held the audience";
          "This story held our interest"; "She can hold an audience
          spellbound"
      23: remain committed to; "I hold to these ideas"
      24: 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}, {hold up}]
      25: 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}, {hold}, {go
          for}]
      26: stop dealing with; "hold all calls to the President's office
          while he is in a meeting"
      27: 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}, {hold}, {contain}, {check}, {curb},
          {moderate}]
      28: keep from departing; "Hold the taxi"; "Hold the horse"
      29: take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The
          dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost
          a week"
      30: cause to stop; "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress";
          "halt the presses" [syn: {halt}, {hold}, {arrest}]
      31: cover as for protection against noise or smell; "She held
          her ears when the jackhammer started to operate"; "hold
          one's nose"
      32: drink alcohol without showing ill effects; "He can hold his
          liquor"; "he had drunk more than he could carry" [syn:
          {carry}, {hold}]
      33: aim, point, or direct; "Hold the fire extinguisher directly
          on the flames"
      34: declare to be; "She was declared incompetent"; "judge held
          that the defendant was innocent" [syn: {declare}, {adjudge},
          {hold}]
      35: 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" [syn: {agree}, {hold}, {concur}, {concord}]
          [ant: {differ}, {disagree}, {dissent}, {take issue}]
      36: keep from exhaling or expelling; "hold your breath"


Source : WordNet ® Princeton University. 2010.

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