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. HOLDING definition: the act of a person or thing that holds. See examples of holding used in a sentence. Discover everything about the word HOLDING in English: meanings, translations, synonyms, pronunciations, examples, and grammar insights - all in one comprehensive guide. The meaning of HOLD is to have possession or ownership of or have at one's disposal. 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 (plural holdings) Something that one owns, especially stocks and bonds. quotations 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. 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.