Dictionary
holding pattern
noun
: a course flown by an aircraft while waiting for permission to land
Full Definition 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
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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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