retain🔊

(transitive)

''Often followed by'' from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.

# (education) To hold back (a pupil) instead of allowing them to advance to the next class or year; to keep back.

Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.

# (medicine) To hold back (tissue or a substance, especially urine) in the body or a body organ.

To hold (something) secure; to prevent (something) from becoming detached or separated.

To keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something); to keep back.

# To keep (something) in the mind; to recall, to remember.

To keep (something) in place or use, instead of removing or abolishing it; to preserve.

To engage or hire (someone), especially temporarily.

# (law) To employ (someone, especially a lawyer) by paying a (t=fee one pays to reserve another person's time for services); specifically, to engage (a barrister) by making an initial payment to secure their services if needed.

To keep (someone) in one's pay or service; also, (historical) to maintain (someone) as a dependent or follower.

(reflexive) To control or restrain (oneself); to exercise self-control over (oneself).

(archaic) To keep (someone) in custody; to prevent (someone) from leaving.

(Christianity)(Christianity) To declare (a sin) not forgiven.

(intransitive)

To keep in control or possession; to continue having.

To have the ability to keep something in the mind; to use the memory.

(medicine) Of a body or body organ: to hold back tissue or a substance.

(obsolete)

# To refrain from doing something.

# To be a dependent or follower to someone.

# (rare) To continue, to remain.

An act of holding or keeping something; a possession, a retention.

(t=a group of attendants or servants, especially of someone considered important).