holdfast
noun, proper noun
Forms holdfasts
- noun Something to or by which an object can be securely fastened.
- noun (biology) A root-like structure that anchors aquatic sessile organisms, such as seaweed, other sessile algae, stalked crinoids, benthic cnidarians, and sponges, to the substrate.
- noun (archaic, medicine) Actinomycosis.
- noun The aspect of a character that experiences destructive temptation.
- proper noun A hamlet and civil parish (served by Longdon, Queenhill and Holdfast Parish Council) in Malvern Hills district, Worcestershire, England (OS grid ref SO853378).
Synonyms
Etymology
Deverbal from hold fast.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Something used to secure and hold in place something else, as a long fiat-headed nail, a catch a hook, a clinch, a clamp, etc.; hence, a support. "His holdfast was gone." Bp. Montagu.
- noun A conical or branching body, by which a seaweed is attached to its support, and differing from a root in that it is not specially absorbent of moisture.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “holdfast”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details