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{
"term": "hold",
"partOfSpeech": "verb",
"ox3000": true,
"cefr": "a2",
"verbForms": {
"presentSimple": {
"iYouWeThey": "hold",
"heSheIt": "holds"
},
"pastSimple": "held",
"pastParticiple": "held",
"ingForm": "holding"
},
"definitions": [
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "to have somebody/something in your hand, arms, etc.",
"sensetop": "hold somebody/somethinghold somebody/something + adv./prep.",
"cefr": "a2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "She was holding a large box.",
"contextForm": "hold somebody/something"
},
{
"text": "They were **holding hands** *(= the right hand of one person holding the left hand of the other)*."
},
{
"text": "I held the mouse by its tail.",
"contextForm": "hold somebody/something + adv./prep."
},
{
"text": "The girl held her father's hand tightly."
},
{
"text": "He was holding the baby in his arms."
},
{
"text": "The winning captain held the trophy in the air."
},
{
"text": "The lovers held each other close."
},
{
"text": "A man holding a map beckoned to me."
},
{
"text": "The person holding most cards when the time limit is reached is the winner."
},
{
"text": "People were holding banners and placards as they stood outside the building."
},
{
"text": "Each woman held a bottle in her hand."
},
{
"text": "The family made a circle, held hands, and bowed their heads."
},
{
"text": "It had started to rain, so several people held umbrellas over me."
},
{
"text": "They walked along the street, holding hands."
},
{
"text": "I held the baby gently in my arms."
},
{
"text": "He held her by the shoulders."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adverb": ["firmly", "securely", "tightly"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "to put your hand on part of your body, usually because it hurts",
"sensetop": "hold somethinghold something + adv./prep.",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "She groaned and held her head.",
"contextForm": "hold something"
},
{
"text": "The prisoner held his head in his hands.",
"contextForm": "hold something + adv./prep."
},
{
"text": "She started to dance, holding her hands rapturously to her chest."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "to keep somebody/something in a particular position",
"sensetop": "hold something + adv./prep.hold something + adj.",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Hold your head up.",
"contextForm": "hold something + adv./prep."
},
{
"text": "Hold this position for a count of 10."
},
{
"text": "The wood is held in position by a clamp."
},
{
"text": "People held handkerchiefs over their mouths."
},
{
"text": "I had to hold my stomach in *(= pull the muscles flat)* to zip up my jeans."
},
{
"text": "I'll hold the door open for you.",
"contextForm": "hold something + adj."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 4,
"definition": "to support the weight of somebody/something",
"sensetop": "hold somebody/something",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "I don't think that branch will hold your weight."
},
{
"text": "She let him hold most of her weight as he led her upstairs."
},
{
"text": "Several pieces of wood joined together can hold more weight than just one piece."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 5,
"definition": "to have enough space for something/somebody; to contain something/somebody",
"sensetop": "hold something/somebody",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "This barrel holds 25 litres."
},
{
"text": "The plane holds about 300 passengers."
},
{
"text": "The inner box holds the cheese and has holes in it."
},
{
"text": "Each 180-litre container will hold up to three black bags of rubbish."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 6,
"definition": "to have or offer something; to be going to bring something",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "I don't know what the **future holds**."
},
{
"text": "This research **holds the key** to understanding life."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 7,
"definition": "to have a meeting, competition, conversation, etc.",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Each month she **holds a meeting** with her entire staff."
},
{
"text": "The British Foreign Minister **held talks** with the leaders of the two countries."
},
{
"text": "He has already **held discussions** with Irish shareholders."
},
{
"text": "It's impossible to hold a conversation with all this noise."
},
{
"text": "The next **conference will be held** in Ohio."
},
{
"text": "The country is **holding** its first free **elections** for 20 years."
},
{
"text": "to **hold an event/a party/a competition**"
},
{
"text": "The premiere was held in the Four Seasons Hotel."
},
{
"text": "The Lisburn Social Club is holding a special Mother's Day lunch next Sunday."
},
{
"text": "Special events are held annually as part of a fund-raising strategy."
},
{
"text": "The Prime Minister announced his intention to hold a referendum."
},
{
"text": "She held a garden party to celebrate the artist's 60th birthday."
},
{
"text": "The meeting will be held in the community centre."
}
],
"topics": ["Working life"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 8,
"definition": "to have something you have gained or achieved",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Who **holds the** world **record** for the long jump?"
},
{
"text": "She held the title of world champion for three years."
}
],
"topics": ["Success"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 9,
"definition": "to have a particular job or position",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "How long has he **held office**?"
},
{
"text": "Mrs Thatcher **held the post** of prime minister longer than anyone else last century."
},
{
"text": "Men still **hold** most **positions** of power in this country."
},
{
"text": "The company has held the advertising contract since 2019."
},
{
"text": "The professor will **hold a seat** on the advisory board."
},
{
"text": "Labour's John Taylor and Mary Smith both held seats in this constituency."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 10,
"definition": "to keep somebody and not allow them to leave",
"sensetop": "hold somebodyhold somebody + noun",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Police are holding two men in connection with last Thursday's bank raid.",
"contextForm": "hold somebody"
},
{
"text": "He was **held prisoner** for two years.",
"contextForm": "hold somebody + noun"
},
{
"text": "Eight people were **held hostage** for four months."
},
{
"text": "She was held captive in a castle."
},
{
"text": "She was arrested and **held in custody** in a police station."
}
],
"topics": ["Crime and punishment"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 11,
"definition": "to keep somebody’s attention or interest",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "There wasn't much in the museum to hold my attention."
},
{
"text": "These discussions held little interest for Lucy."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 12,
"definition": "to keep something at the same level, rate, speed, etc.; to stay at the same level, rate, etc.",
"sensetop": "hold something (at something)hold something to somethinghold at something",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Hold your speed at 70.",
"contextForm": "hold something (at something)"
},
{
"text": "Interest rates have been held at 8% for a year now."
},
{
"text": "They are trying to hold public spending to £300 billion.",
"contextForm": "hold something to something"
},
{
"text": "The company's shares held at £3.47.",
"contextForm": "hold at something"
},
{
"text": "In trading today the dollar **held steady** against the yen."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 13,
"definition": "to keep something so that it can be used later",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Employees do not have access to personal records held on computer."
},
{
"text": "Our solicitor holds our wills."
},
{
"text": "We can hold your reservation for three days."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 14,
"definition": "to wait until you can speak to the person you have phoned",
"sensetop": "hold the line",
"cefr": "b2",
"examples": [
{
"text": "That extension is busy right now. Can you hold?"
},
{
"text": "She asked me to hold the line.",
"contextForm": "hold the line"
}
],
"topics": ["Phones, email and the internet"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 15,
"definition": "to own or have something",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"labels": "(rather formal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Employees hold 30% of the shares."
},
{
"text": "He was born in South Africa but he holds a British passport."
},
{
"text": "Applicants must hold a full driving licence."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 16,
"definition": "to defend something against attack; to have control of something",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"examples": [
{
"text": "The rebels held the radio station."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 17,
"definition": "to remain strong and safe or in position",
"examples": [
{
"text": "They were afraid the dam wouldn't hold."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 18,
"definition": "to remain the same",
"examples": [
{
"text": "How long will the fine weather hold?"
},
{
"text": "If their luck holds, they could still win the championship."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 19,
"definition": "to have a belief or an opinion about somebody/something",
"sensetop": "hold somethinghold somebody/something + adv./prep./adj.",
"cefr": "b2",
"examples": [
{
"text": "He **holds** strange **views** on education.",
"contextForm": "hold something"
},
{
"text": "She is **held in high regard** by her students *(= they have a high opinion of her)*.",
"contextForm": "hold somebody/something + adv./prep./adj."
},
{
"text": "to be **held in high esteem**"
},
{
"text": "He has very firmly held religious beliefs."
},
{
"text": "deeply held religious beliefs"
},
{
"text": "privately held views"
},
{
"text": "This view is not widely held."
}
],
"topics": ["Opinion and argument"],
"collocations": {
"adverb": ["commonly", "widely", "deeply"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 20,
"definition": "to consider that something is true",
"sensetop": "hold that…hold somebody/something + adj.be held to be something",
"labels": "(formal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "I still hold that the government's economic policies are mistaken.",
"contextForm": "hold that…"
},
{
"text": "Parents will be **held responsible** for their children's behaviour.",
"contextForm": "hold somebody/something + adj."
},
{
"text": "These vases are held to be the finest examples of Greek art.",
"contextForm": "be held to be something"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 21,
"definition": "to be in close contact with the road and easy to control, especially when driven fast",
"sensetop": "hold the road",
"cefr": "c2",
"examples": [],
"topics": ["Transport by car or lorry"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 22,
"definition": "to continue to move in a particular direction",
"sensetop": "hold a course",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": 23,
"definition": "to make a note continue for a particular time",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": 24,
"definition": "be able to drink a reasonable amount of alcohol without becoming drunk",
"sensetop": "hold your drink",
"examples": [
{
"text": "I can hold my drink as well as anyone."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 25,
"definition": "to win a game in which you are serving",
"sensetop": "hold (your) serve",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Zverev held serve to take the set.",
"contextForm": "hold (your) serve"
},
{
"text": "Halep held to love."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 26,
"definition": "used to tell somebody to stop doing something or not to do something",
"sensetop": "hold something",
"labels": "(North American English, informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Hold your fire! *(= don't shoot)*"
},
{
"text": "Hold the front page! *(= don't print it until a particular piece of news is available)*"
},
{
"text": "Give me a hot dog, but hold the *(= don't give me any)* mustard."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to be true",
"examples": [
{
"text": "The same argument does not hold good in every case."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to ask somebody to wait, or not to move",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Hold it a second—I don't think everyone's arrived yet."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to hold somebody/something very tightly because you are afraid",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "a person cannot be prevented from doing something",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Once she gets on to the subject of politics there's no holding her."
}
]
}
],
"pronunciations": {
"uk": [
{
"pronunciation": "/həʊld/",
"audio": "ho/hold/hold__gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/həʊldz/",
"audio": "ho/hold/holds__gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/held/",
"audio": "he/hold/held__gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/",
"audio": "ho/hold/holding__gb_2.mp3"
}
],
"us": [
{
"pronunciation": "/həʊld/",
"audio": "ho/hold/hold__us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/həʊldz/",
"audio": "ho/hold/holds__us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/held/",
"audio": "he/hold/held__us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/",
"audio": "ho/hold/holding__us_2.mp3"
}
]
},
"wordOrigin": "verb Old English haldan, healdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch houden and German halten; the noun is partly from Old Norse hald ‘hold, support, custody’."
}