TAKE HOLD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does take hold mean? 

• TAKE HOLD (verb)
  The verb TAKE HOLD has 2 senses:

1. assume control

2. have or hold in one's hands or grip

  Familiarity information: TAKE HOLD used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TAKE HOLD (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Assume control

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

take charge; take control; take hold

Hypernyms (to "take hold" is one way to...):

head; lead (be in charge of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "take hold"):

move in on (seize control of)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Have or hold in one's hands or grip

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

hold; take hold

Context example:

A crazy idea took hold of him

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "take hold"):

grasp; hold on (hold firmly)

cling to; clutch; hold close; hold tight (hold firmly, usually with one's hands)

cradle (hold gently and carefully)

clinch (hold a boxing opponent with one or both arms so as to prevent punches)

interlace; interlock; lock (hold in a locking position)

trap (hold or catch as if in a trap)

cradle (hold or place in or as if in a cradle)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

You take hold like a good fellow.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

If I dared, I'd touch you, to see if you are substance or shadow, you elf!—but I'd as soon offer to take hold of a blue ignis fatuus light in a marsh.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The group next determined where 2 SSRIs, citalopram (CeleXA) and paroxetine (Paxil), take hold of the transporter.

(Serotonin transporter structure revealed, NIH)

You shall soon learn what shuddering is, thought he, and secretly went there before him; and when the boy was at the top of the tower and turned round, and was just going to take hold of the bell rope, he saw a white figure standing on the stairs opposite the sounding hole.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

When the dry cough take hold of them hard, they hold their hands against their stomach and double up in the snow, and cough, and cough, and cough. They cannot walk, they cannot talk.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)