Meaning of RETAIN
| Pronunciation: | | ri'teyn
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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- [v] keep in one's mind; "I cannot retain so much information"
- [v] as to represent; of legal counsel; "I'm retaining a lawyer"
- [v] secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"
- [v] hold on to
- [v] allow to remain in a place or position; "We cannot continue several servants any longer"; "She retains a lawyer"; "The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff"; "Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on"; "We kept the work going as long as we could"
- [v] hold within; "This soil retains water"; "I retain this drug for a long time"
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| | Synonyms: | | continue, engage, hold, hold back, keep, keep back, keep going, keep on |
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| | See Also: | | bear, carry, contain, employ, hire, hold, hold down, hold on, hold open, keep, keep open, keep up, prolong, remember, save, sustain, think of | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
\Re*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Retained}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Retaining}.] [F. retainir, L. retinere; pref. re- re- +
tenere to hold, keep. See {Tenable}, and cf. {Rein} of a
bridle, {Retention}, {Retinue}.]
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}.
\Re*tain"\, v. i.
1. To belong; to pertain. [Obs.]
A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness.
--Boyle.
2. To keep; to continue; to remain. [Obs.] --Donne.
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