Verb
1. keep under control; keep in check;
"suppress a smile""Keep your temper""keep your cool"2. place limits on (extent or access);
"restrict the use of this parking lot""limit the time you can spend with your friends"3. to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement;
"This holds the local until the express passengers change trains""About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade""The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center""The terrorists held the journalists for ransom"4. hold back
5. to compel or deter by or as if by threats