holding pattern
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.holding pattern
nounDefinition of HOLDING PATTERN
1
: the usually oval course flown (as over an airport) by aircraft awaiting clearance especially to land
2
: a state of waiting or suspended activity or progress
See Examples of HOLDING PATTERN
- Our plane was in a holding pattern for almost an hour because of the fog.
- <repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter>
First Known Use of HOLDING PATTERN
circa 1952
Related to HOLDING PATTERN
- Synonyms
- cold storage, deep freeze, doldrums, dormancy, abeyance, latency, moratorium, quiescence, suspended animation, suspense, suspension
- Antonyms
- continuance, continuation
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All Words Near: holding pattern
Previous Word in the Dictionary: holding–out partner
All Words Near: holding pattern
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