hold

Hold is a verb with multiple senses. Physical grasp: to hold something means to clasp or grip it with the hand or another body part, keeping it close or carrying it. Retention and control: to hold something means to keep possession of it, to restrain it, or to support or bear its weight. Detention or restraint: to hold someone is to keep them in custody or to delay release. In addition, hold can mean to maintain a belief, position, or attitude: to hold a view; to hold a line or stance. In music and performance, to hold a note or rest means to sustain it longer than its written value; in computing and electronics, to hold a value means to retain it in memory.

Noun senses: a hold is the act of holding, or the grip itself. A ship’s hold is the cargo space beneath the deck. A holding is a company that owns enough stock to control others, or, in finance, an investment held by an investor. A “hold” on a transaction or funds is a temporary restriction or pause. In sports and grappling, a hold is a technique that controls an opponent.

Idioms and usage: hold on means to wait or grasp firmly; hold up means to delay or to support; hold out means to offer or resist; hold the line means to remain on a telephone call; hold fast means to cling firmly. Legal and professional usage: a litigation hold or preservation hold requires withholding relevant documents to prevent spoliation. Etymology: from Old English holdan, related to Dutch houden and German halten, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *haldą.