About The Word Retain

Bay Area Crosswords

Learn about the word Retain to help solve your crossword puzzle. Discover Retain definitions and meaning, origins, synonyms, related terms and more at the free Crossword Dictionary.

Retain

Retain Meaning & Definition
Retain Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Retain?

[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"

Synonyms | Synonyms for Retain: continue | engage | hold | hold back | keep | keep back | keep going | keep on

Related Terms | Find terms related to Retain:

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

Retain In Webster's Dictionary

\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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