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English
Pronunciation
Noun
holding (plural holdings)
- Something that one owns, especially stocks and bonds.
1980, Joseph D. Dwyer, Russia, the Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe, page 9:Although this survey lists only a small number of representative materials in the Hoover Library's Baltic Collection, a comprehensive view of the library's holdings can be gained from the Hoover Institution's card catalog or its printed equivalent
2009, The Economist, Law and order in Italy: Trouble with figures:Italy's right-wing prime minister was about to cure his biggest headache by selling the state's holding in a troubled airline, Alitalia.
2014, D. K. Acharya, Standard Methods of Contract Bridge Complete, page 378:The defender at third position is supposed to keep the partner informed of his holdings in that suit.
- A determination of law made by a court.
- A tenure; a farm or other estate held of another.
c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 3:Take again
From this my hand, as holding of the Pope
Your sovereign greatness and authority.
- (obsolete) Logic; consistency.
c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 27:This has no holding,
To swear by him whom I protest to love
That I will work against him.
- (obsolete) The burden or chorus of a song.
c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 109:Make battery to our ears with the loud music;
The while I'll place you; then the boy shall sing.
The holding every man shall beat as loud
As his strong sides can volley.
- (obsolete, rare) That which holds, binds, or influences; hold; influence; power.
- (in texts about Russia, nonstandard) A holding company, or other kind of company (by back-translation from Russian холдинг (xolding)).
Coordinate terms
Descendants
Translations
something that one owns, especially stocks and bonds
determination of law by court
tenure; farm or other estate held of another
Verb
holding
- present participle and gerund of hold
They were caught holding hands in the dark.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps, […] , and the light of the reflector fell full upon her.
Derived terms
Anagrams
French
Pronunciation
Noun
holding m or f (plural holdings)
- holding company
Further reading
Italian
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from English holding.
Noun
holding f (invariable)
- holding company
Polish
Etymology
Borrowed from English holding.
Pronunciation
Noun
holding m inan
- (business) holding company
Declension
Derived terms
Further reading
- holding in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
- holding in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Portuguese
Etymology
Borrowed from English holding.
Pronunciation
Noun
holding m (invariable)
- holding company
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French holding, from English holding.
Noun
holding n (plural holdinguri)
- holding company
Declension
Spanish
Noun
holding m (plural holdings)
- holding company
Further reading
Turkish
Etymology
From English holding.
Pronunciation
Noun
holding (definite accusative holdingi, plural holdingler)
- holding company
Declension