Hold in warm affection (3)
I believe the answer is:
hug
'hold' is the definition.
(hug is a kind of hold)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hug that I've seen before include "A hearty embrace as of bear" , "Tightly embrace" , "Cuddle" , "Tight embrace" , "Bear-like embrace?" .)