Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - hold

 I. verb  (held; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English healdan; akin to Old High German haltan to ~, and perhaps to Latin celer rapid, Greek klonos agitation  Date: before 12th century  transitive verb  1.  a. to have possession or ownership of or have at one's disposal ~s property worth millions the bank ~s the title to the car  b. to have as a privilege or position of responsibility ~ a professorship  c. to have as a mark of distinction ~s the record for the 100-yard dash ~s a PhD  2. to keep under restraint ~ price increases to a minimum: as  a. to prevent free expression of ~ your temper  b. to prevent from some action ordered the troops to ~ fire the only restraining motive which may ~ the hand of a tyrant — Thomas Jefferson  c. to keep back from use ask them to ~ a room for us I'll have a hot dog, and ~ the mustard  d. to delay temporarily the handling of please ~ all my calls  3. to make liable or accountable or bound to an obligation I'll ~ you to your promise  4.  a. to have or maintain in the grasp ~ my hand this is how you ~ the racket; also aim, point held a gun on them  b. to support in a particular position or keep from falling or moving ~ me up so I can see ~ the ladder steady a clamp ~s the whole thing together ~ your head up  c. to bear the pressure of ; support can the roof ~ all of that weight  5. to prevent from leaving or getting away ~ the train: as  a. to avoid emitting or letting out how long can you ~ your breath  b. to restrain as or as if a captive the suspect was held without bail held them at gunpoint; also to have strong appeal to the book held my interest throughout  6.  a. to enclose and keep in a container or within bounds ; contain the jug ~s one gallon this corral will not ~ all of the horses  b. to be able to consume easily or without undue effect can't ~ any more pie; especially to be able to drink (alcoholic beverages) without becoming noticeably drunk can't ~ your liquor  c. accommodate the restaurant ~s 400 diners  d. to have as a principal or essential feature or attribute the book ~s a number of surprises; also to have in store no one knows what the future ~s  7.  a. to have in the mind or express as a judgment, opinion, or belief I ~ the view that this is wrong ~ a grudge ~ing that it is nobody's business but his — Jack Olsen — often used with against in America they ~ everything you say against you — Paul McCartney  b. to think of in a particular way ; regard were held in high esteem  8.  a. to assemble for and carry on the activity of held a convention  b. to cause to be carried on ; conduct will ~ a seminar  c. to produce or sponsor especially as a public exhibition will ~ an art show  9.  a. to maintain occupation, control, or defense of the troops held the ridge; also to resist the offensive efforts or advance of held the opposing team to just two points  b. to maintain (a certain condition, situation, or course of action) without change ~ a course due east  10. to cover (a part of the body) especially for protection had to ~ their ears because of the cold  intransitive verb  1.  a. to maintain position ; refuse to give ground the defensive line is ~ing  b. to continue in the same way or to the same degree ; last hopes the weather will ~ — often used with up  2. to derive right or title — often used with of or from  3. to be or remain valid ; apply the rule ~s in most cases — often used in the phrase ~ true  4. to maintain a grasp on something ; remain fastened to something the anchor held in the rough sea  5. to go ahead as one has been going held south for several miles  6. to bear or carry oneself asked him to ~ still  7. to forbear an intended or threatened action ; halt, pause — often used as a command  8. to stop counting during a countdown  9. slang to have illicit drug material in one's possession  Synonyms: see contain  II. NOUN  Date: 14th century  1. strong~ 1  2.  a. confinement, custody  b. prison  3.  a.  (1) the act or the manner of ~ing or grasping ; grip released his ~ on the handle  (2) a manner of grasping an opponent in wrestling  b. a nonphysical bond that attaches, restrains, or constrains or by which something is affected, controlled, or dominated has lost its ~ on the broad public — Oscar Cargill  c. full comprehension get ~ of exactly what is happening — J. P. Lyford  d. full or immediate control ; possession get ~ of yourself wants to get ~ of a road map  e. touch 14 — used with of tried to get ~ of me  4. something that may be grasped as a support  5.  a. fermata  b. the time between the onset and the release of a vocal articulation  6. a sudden motionless posture at the end of a dance  7.  a. an order or indication that something is to be reserved or delayed  b. a delay in a countdown (as in launching a spacecraft)  III. noun  Etymology: alteration of hole  Date: 1591  1. the interior of a ship below decks; especially the cargo deck of a ship  2. the cargo compartment of a plane