From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
hold on
v 1: hold firmly [syn: grasp, hold on]
2: stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or
developments; "Hold on a moment!" [syn: hold on, stop]
3: be persistent, refuse to stop; "he persisted to call me every
night"; "The child persisted and kept asking questions" [syn:
persevere, persist, hang in, hang on, hold on]
4: hold the phone line open; "Please hang on while I get your
folder" [syn: hang on, hold the line, hold on]
5: retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?";
"She kept her maiden name after she married" [syn: keep,
hold on] [ant: lose]