"holds" in the noun sense
1. clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold
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"
2. appreciation, grasp, hold
understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
"he has a good grasp of accounting practices"
3. hold
power by which something or someone is affected or dominated
"he has a hold over them"
4. delay, hold, time lag, postponement, wait
time during which some action is awaited
"instant replay caused too long a delay"
"he ordered a hold in the action"
5. detention, detainment, hold, custody
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"
6. hold
a stronghold
7. hold, keep
a cell in a jail or prison
8. handle, grip, handgrip, hold
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"
9. cargo area, cargo deck, cargo hold, hold, storage area
the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo
"holds" 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)
Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.
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