Thesaurus: retain

Related headwords

Definitions

1. v. t. To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like.
2. v. t. To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor.
3. v. t. To restrain; to prevent.
4. v. i. To belong; to pertain.
5. v. i. To keep; to continue; to remain.
6. v. hold back within
7. v. allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
8. v. secure and keep for possible future use or application
9. v. keep in one's mind
10. 1. To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like. "Thy shape invisibleretain." Shak. Be obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire. Milton. An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator. Blackstone. 2. To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor. A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defense. Addison. 3. To restrain; to prevent. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple. Retaining wall (Arch. & Engin.), a wall built to keep any movable backing, or a bank of sand or earth, in its place; -- called also retain wall. Syn. -- To keep; hold; retrain. See Keep. 1. To belong; to pertain. [Obs.] A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness. Boyle. 2. To keep; to continue; to remain. [Obs.] Donne.
11. v:100 v. hold back within v. allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature v. secure and keep for possible future use or application v. keep in one's mind