"holding" in the noun sense

1. retention, keeping, holding

the act of retaining something

2. 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"

"holding" in the verb sense

1. keep, maintain, hold

cause to continue 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"

2. 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"

3. hold, throw, have, make, give

organize or be responsible for

"hold a reception"

"have, throw, or make a party"

"give a course"

4. 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"

5. 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"

6. harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurse

maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings

"bear a grudge"

"entertain interesting notions"

"harbor a resentment"

7. restrain, confine, hold, constrain

to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free 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"

8. 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"

9. bear, hold

have rightfully of rights, titles, and offices

"She bears the title of Duchess"

"He held the governorship for almost a decade"

10. 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?"

11. hold, bear, carry, contain

contain or hold have within

"The jar carries wine"

"The canteen holds fresh water"

"This can contains water"

12. 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"

13. hold

remain in a certain state, position, or condition

"The weather held"

"They held on the road and kept marching"

14. hold, carry, bear

support or hold in a certain manner

"She holds her head high"

"He carried himself upright"

15. prevail, hold, obtain

be valid, applicable, or true

"This theory still holds"

16. hold

assert or affirm

"Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good"

17. hold

have as a major characteristic

"The novel holds many surprises"

"The book holds in store much valuable advise"

18. contain, take, hold

be capable of holding or containing

"This box won't take all the items"

"The flask holds one gallon"

19. 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"

20. defend, guard, hold

protect against a challenge or attack

"Hold that position behind the trees!"

"Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"

21. 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"

22. hold

hold the attention of

"The soprano held the audience"

"This story held our interest"

"She can hold an audience spellbound"

23. hold

remain committed to

"I hold to these ideas"

24. 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"

25. 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"

26. hold

stop dealing with

"hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting"

27. 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"

28. hold

keep from departing

"Hold the taxi"

"Hold the horse"

29. hold

take and maintain control over, often by violent means

"The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week"

30. halt, hold, arrest

cause to stop

"Halt the engines"

"Arrest the progress"

"halt the presses"

31. hold

cover as for protection against noise or smell

"She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate"

"hold one's nose"

32. carry, hold

drink alcohol without showing ill effects

"He can hold his liquor"

"he had drunk more than he could carry"

33. hold

aim, point, or direct

"Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames"

34. declare, adjudge, hold

declare to be

"She was declared incompetent"

"judge held that the defendant was innocent"

35. 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"

36. hold

keep from exhaling or expelling

"hold your breath"

Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)

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