11 VERB If a place holds something, it keeps it available for reference or for future use. □ [V n] The Small Firms Service holds an enormous amount of information on any business problem.
12 VERB [no cont] If something holds a particular amount of something, it can contain that amount. □ [V n] …a stadium that holds over 30,000 people.
13 VERB If a vehicle holds the road well, it remains in close contact with the road and can be controlled safely and easily. □ [V n adv] I thought the car held the road really well. [Also V n]
14 → see also holding
➋ hold ◆◆◆ /hoʊ ld/ (holds , holding , held ) Hold is often used to indicate that someone or something has the particular thing, characteristic, or attitude that is mentioned. Therefore it takes most of its meaning from the word that follows it. 1 VERB [no cont] Hold is used with words and expressions indicating an opinion or belief, to show that someone has a particular opinion or believes that something is true. □ [V n] He holds certain expectations about the teacher's role. □ [V that] Current thinking holds that obesity is more a medical than a psychological problem. □ [V n + in ] The public, meanwhile, hold architects in low esteem. □ [V -ed] …a widely held opinion.
2 VERB [no passive] Hold is used with words such as 'fear' or 'mystery' to indicate someone's feelings towards something, as if those feelings were a characteristic of the thing itself. □ [V n + for ] Death doesn't hold any fear for me. □ [V n] It held more mystery than even the darkest jungle.
3 VERB Hold is used with nouns such as 'office', 'power', and 'responsibility' to indicate that someone has a particular position of power or authority. □ [V n] She has never held ministerial office.
4 VERB Hold is used with nouns such as 'permit', 'degree', or 'ticket' to indicate that someone has a particular document that allows them to do something. □ [V n] He did not hold a firearm certificate. □ [V n] Passengers holding tickets will receive refunds.
5 VERB Hold is used with nouns such as 'party', 'meeting', 'talks', 'election', and 'trial' to indicate that people are organizing a particular activity. □ [V n] The German sports federation said it would hold an investigation. ● hold|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] They also called for the holding of multi-party general elections.
6 VERB Hold is used with nouns such as 'conversation', 'interview', and 'talks' to indicate that two or more people meet and discuss something. □ [V n + with ] The Prime Minister, is holding consultations with his colleagues to finalise the deal. □ [V ] The engineer and his son held frequent consultations concerning technical problems. □ [V n] They can't believe you can even hold a conversation.
7 VERB Hold is used with nouns such as 'shares' and 'stock' to indicate that someone owns a particular proportion of a business. □ [V n] The group said it continues to hold 1,774,687 Vons shares.
8 → see also holding
9 VERB Hold is used with words such as 'lead' or 'advantage' to indicate that someone is winning or doing well in a contest. □ [V n] He continued to hold a lead in Angola's presidential race.
10 VERB Hold is used with nouns such as 'attention' or 'interest' to indicate that what you do or say keeps someone interested or listening to you. □ [V n] If you want to hold someone's attention, look them directly in the eye but don't stare.
11 VERB If you hold someone responsible, liable, or accountable for something, you will blame them if anything goes wrong. □ [V n adj] It's impossible to hold any individual responsible.
➌ hold ◆◆◆ /hoʊ ld/ (holds , holding , held )
1 VERB If someone holds you in a place, they keep you there as a prisoner and do not allow you to leave. □ [V n] The inside of a van was as good a place as any to hold a kidnap victim. □ [V n n] Somebody is holding your wife hostage. □ [V -ed] Japan had originally demanded the return of two seamen held on spying charges.
2 VERB If people such as an army or a violent crowd hold a place, they control it by using force. □ [V n] Demonstrators have been holding the square since Sunday.
3 N‑SING If you have a hold over someone, you have power or control over them, for example because you know something about them you can use to threaten them or because you are in a position of authority. □ He had ordered his officers to keep an exceptionally firm hold over their men.
4 VERB [no passive] If you ask someone to hold , or to hold the line , when you are answering a phone call, you are asking them to wait for a short time, for example so that you can find the person they want to speak to. □ [V n] Could you hold the line and I'll just get my pen. □ [V ] A telephone operator asked him to hold.
5 VERB If you hold phone calls for someone, you do not allow people who phone to speak to that person, but take messages instead. □ [V n] He tells his secretary to hold his calls.
6 VERB If something holds at a particular value or level, or is held there, it is kept at that value or level. □ [V prep/adv/adj] OPEC production is holding at around 21.5 million barrels a day. □ [V n with adv] The supermarket has vowed to hold down prices. □ [V n prep/adj] The final dividend will be held at 20.7p, after an 8 per cent increase. □ [V n] …provided the pound holds its value against the euro. [Also V ]
7 VERB If you hold a sound or musical note, you continue making it. □ [V n] …a voice which hit and held every note with perfect ease and clarity.
8 VERB If you hold something such as a train, a lift, or an elevator, you delay it. □ [V n] A London Underground spokesman defended the decision to hold the train until police arrived.