Meaning of the word holdfast in English

What does holdfast mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

holdfast

US /ˈhoʊldˌfæst/
UK /ˈhəʊldˌfɑːst/

Noun

1.

a thing that holds something firmly in place

Example:
The anchor provided a strong holdfast for the boat.
The roots of the plant acted as a natural holdfast in the rocky soil.
2.

a root-like structure that anchors aquatic organisms, such as seaweed, to a substrate

Example:
The kelp attached itself to the rocks with its strong holdfast.
Many marine organisms rely on a specialized holdfast to withstand strong currents.