(hōld) v. held, held or in legal use hold·en, hold·ing v.t.
1. To take and keep in the hand; retain.
2. To prevent the movement or escape of: He held her so that she could not move.
3. To restrain from acting or speaking: Hold your tongue!
4. To keep in a specified state: to hold one a prisoner.
5. To regard in a specified manner; consider: to hold someone dear.
6. To require to fulfil, as the conditions of a contract; obligate.
7. To support or keep in position: Ropes held the tower in position.
8. To be capable of enclosing or containing: The barrel holds ten gallons.
9. To maintain in the mind; believe: to hold an opinion or a grudge.
10. To conduct or engage in; carry on: to hold court or services.
11. To have and retain ownership or control of; keep as one's own; occupy: to hold the chair.
12. To retain possession or control of, as against an enemy: They held the town against the enemy.
—v.i.
13. To maintain a grip or grasp.
14. To remain firm or unbroken: if the rope holds; He held to his purpose.
15. To remain or continue unchanged: The breeze held all day.
16. To be relevant; remain true, correct, etc.: This decision holds for all such cases.
17. To check or restrain oneself; forbear: usually used in the imperative. See synonyms under ARREST, EMBRACE, ESTEEM, GRASP, HAVE, INTEREST, KEEP, OCCUPY, RESTRAIN, RETAIN.
—to hold back
1. To prevent from acting or doing.
2. To refrain.
3. To keep apart or aside; retain, as for an undisclosed purpose.
—to hold down
1. To suppress; keep under control.
2. Colloq. To occupy (a job, etc.) successfully.
—to hold forth To harangue; preach or speak at length.
—to hold in To keep in check; restrain.
—to hold off
1. To keep at a distance.
2. To refrain.
—to hold on
1. To maintain a grip or hold.
2. To persist; continue.
3. Colloq. To stop or wait: used in the imperative.
—to hold one's own To maintain one's position, as in a contest; lose no ground.
—to hold out
1. To stretch forth; offer.
2. To last to the end: Our supplies held out.
3. To continue resistance; endure; persist.
4. U.S. Slang To keep back part or all of (something).
—to hold out for Colloq. To insist upon as a condition of an agreement: He held out for a higher salary.
—to hold over
1. To put off to a later date; delay.
2. To remain beyond the expected time or limit; extend.
—to hold up
1. To support; prop.
2. To exhibit to view.
3. Colloq. To last; endure.
4. To delay; stop.
5. Colloq. To stop and rob; also, to rob.
—noun
1. The act of holding, as with the hands; a seizure; figuratively, a controlling force or influence; restraint.
2. A place to grasp.
3. A place of security; a fortified place; stronghold; refuge.
4. The state of being held; possession.
5. Law A holding or tenure: in composition: copyhold, freehold.
6. Music A character () indicating the sustention of a tone.
7. A cell in jail.
8. Something to hold articles; a receptacle.
9. A lock or latch. [OE haldan]

(hōld) noun Naut.
The space below the decks of a vessel where cargo is stowed. [<HOLE or <MDu. hol]