Holding \Hold"ing\, n. 1. The act or state of sustaining, grasping, or retaining. 2. A tenure; a farm or other estate held of another. 3. That which holds, binds, or influences. --Burke. 4. The burden or chorus of a song. [Obs.] --Shak. {Holding note} (Mus.), a note sustained in one part, while the other parts move.