Discover everything about the word HOLDING in English: meanings, translations, synonyms, pronunciations, examples, and grammar insights - all in one comprehensive guide. holding (plural holdings) Something that one owns, especially stocks and bonds. quotations 1. the act of one that holds. 2. a section of land leased or otherwise tenanted, esp. for agricultural purposes. 3. Often, holdings. legally owned property, as securities. 4. holdings, the collection of books, periodicals, and other materials in a library. Holding companies reduce risk for the shareholders, and can permit the ownership and control of a number of different companies. They can be subsidiaries in a tiered structure. HOLDING definition: 1. something that you own such as shares in a company or buildings, or land that you rent and farm…. Learn more. The meaning of HOLDING is land held especially by a vassal or tenant. How to use holding in a sentence. an act of holding with the hand or other physical means: a good hold on the rope. something to hold a thing by: climbing up using the toe holds on the mountainside. HOLDING definition: the act of a person or thing that holds. See examples of holding used in a sentence. What does the noun holding mean? There are 11 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun holding, three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. The meaning of HOLD is to have possession or ownership of or have at one's disposal.