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. 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 (plural holdings) Something that one owns, especially stocks and bonds. quotations The holding company will report the accounting results of these subsidiary companies as part of the accounting results for the group of companies. HOLDING definition: 1. something that you own such as shares in a company or buildings, or land that you rent and farm…. Learn more. HOLDING definition: the act of a person or thing that holds. See examples of holding used in a sentence. The meaning of HOLD is to have possession or ownership of or have at one's disposal. You have to hold my hand when we cross the road. Polly and Susie were having a squabble about who was going to hold the dog's lead. Suddenly he drew a knife and held it to my throat. Would you mind holding the door open for me, please? The screws that hold the bed together had loosened. A holding is an area of farm land which is owned or rented by the person who grows crops on it. The meaning of HOLDING is land held especially by a vassal or tenant. How to use holding in a sentence.