—hold /həʊld/ aep /hoʊld/
noun (DELAY)
on holdC1 If you are on hold when using the phone, you are waiting to speak to someone:
» Mr Briggs is on hold.» His phone is engaged - can I put you on hold?Thesaurus+: ↑Communicating by telephoneC1 If an activity is on hold, it has been intentionally delayed:
» Everything's on hold again because of the bad weather.» The film's been put on hold until the financial situation improves.Thesaurus+: ↑Delaying and wasting timenoun (SPACE)
► F0 [C] the space in a ship or aircraft in which goods are carriedThesaurus+: ↑Parts of ships and boatsThesaurus+: ↑Parts of aeroplanesnoun (SUPPORT)
B2 [S or U] the act of holding something or someone, or the way you do this:
» Keep a tight hold on your tickets.» Don't worry if you lose hold of the reins - the horse won't wander off.→ SEE ALSO FOOTHOLD(Cf. ↑foothold) (ROCK CLIMBING), HANDHOLD(Cf. ↑handhold), TOEHOLD(Cf. ↑toehold) (IN ROCK)Thesaurus+: ↑Having in your handscatch/get/grab/take hold of sth/sbB2 to start holding something or someone:
» He took hold of one end of the carpet and tugged.» I just managed to grab hold of Lucy before she fell in the pool.Thesaurus+: ↑Having in your handsF0 [C] in fighting sports, a position in which one person holds another person so that they cannot move part of their body
Thesaurus+: ↑WrestlingThesaurus+: ↑Martial artsF0 [C] a place to put the hands and feet, especially when climbing
Thesaurus+: ↑Mountaineering and rock climbingWord Builder:–Nouns: hold, holder, holding–Verbs: hold• • •
Extra Examples:» Without saying a word, she took hold of my arm and marched me off to the headmaster's office.» She relinquished her hold on the steering wheel.» He got hold of the money legally, without resort to violence.» He caught hold of my arm.» He took hold of the plant's root and pulled.noun [S] (CONTROL)
► C2 power or control over something or someone: » Their company has a strong hold on/over the computer market.Thesaurus+: ↑Limiting and restricting , ↑Preventing and impedingverb (held, held) (CONTAIN) ↑Verb Endings for hold
B1 [T not continuous] to contain or be able to contain something:
» This jug holds exactly one pint.» One bag won't hold all of the shopping - we'd better take two.» Computers can hold huge amounts of information.Thesaurus+: ↑Including and containing , ↑Comprising and consisting ofF0 [T not continuous] to have or contain something that a person will experience:
» Who can tell what the future holds?» She's very religious, so death holds no fear for her.Thesaurus+: ↑Including and containing , ↑Comprising and consisting of• • •
Extra Examples:» It used to hold paper bags, but gradually came to be used for magazines.» That vase isn't big enough to hold all these flowers.» Will the room hold a hundred people?» The container held a gallon of soup.» We knew the chest held a lot of gold jewellery.verb (held, held) (KEEP) ↑Verb Endings for hold
C1 [T] to keep something, especially when it might have been lost:
» I asked the shop to hold the dress for me until this afternoon.» You have to be a fairly good speaker to hold an audience's attention/interest.Thesaurus+: ↑Keeping and storing thingsB2 [T] to keep someone in a place so that they cannot leave:
» The police are holding several people in custody (= at the police station) for questioning.» [+ obj + noun ] The terrorists held him hostage for 18 months.» I was held prisoner in a tiny attic room.Thesaurus+: ↑Putting people in prisonThesaurus+: ↑Arresting and charging• • •
Extra Examples:» The hostages are being held as a bargaining chip by terrorist organizations.» The three men were held hostage for two days by masked gunmen.» His verbal pyrotechnics could hold an audience spellbound.» The terrorists were holding several British diplomats captive.» The police are holding several people in custody for questioning.verb (held, held) (SUPPORT) ↑Verb Endings for hold
A2 [T] to take and keep something in your hand or arms:
» Can you hold the bag while I open the door?» He was holding a gun.» The little girl held her mother's hand.» He held her in his arms.» [+ obj + adj ] Could you hold the door open, please?» Rosie held out an apple for the horse.» All those who agree please hold up their hand (= raise their arm).Thesaurus+: ↑Having in your handsF0 [T] to support something:
» Will the rope be strong enough to hold my weight?» Each wheel is held on with four bolts.» The parts are held together with glue.Thesaurus+: ↑Having in your handshold your noseF0 to press your nose tightly between thumb and finger in order to close it:
» I have to hold my nose when I jump into water.Thesaurus+: ↑Having in your handshold handsA2 When two people hold hands, one person holds the other person's hand in their hand, especially to show that they love each other:
» They walked along holding hands.→ SEE ALSO HAND IN HAND(Cf. ↑hand in hand)Thesaurus+: ↑Showing affection , ↑Touching and feelingWord Builder:–Nouns: hold, holder, holding–Verbs: hold• • •
Extra Examples:» You have to hold my hand when we cross the road.» Polly and Susie were having a squabble about who was going to hold the dog's lead.» Suddenly he drew a knife and held it to my throat.» Would you mind holding the door open for me, please?» The screws that hold the bed together had loosened.verb [I or T] (held, held) (CONTINUE) ↑Verb Endings for hold
► F0 to cause to stay or continue in the same way as before: » Let's hope our good luck holds.» I hope the repair holds until we get the car to a garage.» The old adage that 'money talks' still holds true (= is still true).» The government is committed to holding exports at their present level.» The ship/aircraft held its course.Thesaurus+: ↑Continue and lastverb [I or T] (held, held) (DELAY) ↑Verb Endings for hold
► F0 to wait, or to stop something temporarily: » They've decided to hold all future deliveries until the invoice has been paid.» How long can you hold your breath (= stop breathing)?» Will you hold my calls for the next half hour please?» She's on the phone at the moment - will you hold (the line) (= wait on the phone until she can speak to you)?Thesaurus+: ↑Delaying and wasting timeverb [T not continuous] (held, held) (BELIEVE) ↑Verb Endings for hold
► F0 to believe an idea or opinion: » [+ to infinitive] Small amounts of alcohol are held to be good for the heart.» You sold it to me, so if it breaks I'll hold you responsible (= make you take responsibility).Thesaurus+: ↑Believing• • •
Extra Examples:» He held me personally responsible whenever anything went wrong in the project.» She was held responsible for the accident.» If he so much as harms a hair on her head I won't be held responsible for my actions.» The leaves of the plant are held to have health benefits when eaten.» Her early work is generally held to be her best.verb [T] (held, held) (CONTROL) ↑Verb Endings for hold
► C1 to have something, especially a position or money, or to control something: » He currently holds the position of technical manager.» The bank holds large reserves of gold.» Despite incurring heavy losses, the rebels now hold the town and the surrounding hills.Thesaurus+: ↑Having and owning - general wordsThesaurus+: ↑Controlling and being in charge• • •
Extra Examples:» He holds a 40 percent stake in the company.» As chairman of the association, he held office for over 20 years.» She's held the post for 13 years.» He holds several company directorships.» Who holds the copyright on this article?verb [T] (held, held) (IN A COMPETITION)
► B2 to have a particular position in a competition: » She holds the world record.» They held the lead until the 89th minute.verb [T] (held, held) (MAKE HAPPEN) ↑Verb Endings for hold
► B1 to have something such as a meeting or an election: » Could we hold a meeting to discuss this tomorrow afternoon?» The election will be held on 8 August.» I find it's almost impossible to hold a sensible conversation with her.Thesaurus+: ↑Causing things to happen• • •
Extra Examples:» They frequently hold conferences at that hotel.» Dr Clark holds a clinic on Tuesday mornings.» They held a dinner to celebrate his retirement.» The president held an emergency meeting to discuss military strategy with his defence commanders yesterday.» The director is holding auditions next week for the major parts.verb [T] (held, held) US (NOT INCLUDE) ↑Verb Endings for hold
► F0 If you ask someone to hold something, you do not want them to include it: » I'd like a ham sandwich on rye, hold the lettuce.Thesaurus+: ↑Excluding- pick on sb
- pick on someone your own size
- pick over sth
- pickpocket
- pick/pull sb/sth to pieces
- pick sb's brains
- pick sb's pocket
- pick sb/sth off
- pick sb/sth out
- pick sb/sth up
- pick sb up
- pick sb up on sth
- pick sth out
- pick (sth) up
- pick sth up
- pick up
- pickup
- pick up on sth
- pick up/take up the slack
- pick up the bill/tab
- pick up the phone
- pick up the pieces
- pick up the thread
- pick up the thread(s)
- pick up the threads