detention and hold share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. detention means “a state of being confined (usually for a short time)”. hold means “cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., `keep clean'”. hold is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/dɪˈtɛnʃən/
1.n.a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
“his detention was politically motivated”
2.n.a punishment in which a student must stay at school after others have gone home
“the detention of tardy pupils”
/ˈhoʊld/
1.v.cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., `keep clean'
“hold in place”
2.v.have or hold in one's hands or grip
“Hold this bowl for a moment, please”
3.v.organize or be responsible for
“hold a reception”
| detention | hold | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /dɪˈtɛnʃən/ | /ˈhoʊld/ |
| Said | di-TEN-shuhn | hohld |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Letters | 9 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | noun | verb, noun |
| Senses | 2 | 45 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | detainment, hold, custody | keep, maintain |
Full entry for detention · Full entry for hold · More comparisons