- holding pattern - a state of inaction with no progress and no change; "you should go into a holding pattern until he gets over his disappointment"
--1 is a kind of inaction, inactivity, inactiveness
- holding pattern - the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land
--2 is a kind of air lane, flight path, airway, skyway
- holding pattern - the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land