Yahoo Canada Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   retain

   /rɪˈteɪn/

   verb

   • 1. continue to have (something); keep possession of: "built in 1830, the house retains many of its original features" Similar keepkeep possession ofkeep hold ofhold on tohold fast tokeep backhang on tocling toliterary:cleave tomaintainkeepcontinuepreservereserveconserveperpetuatecherishOpposite give uploseabolishdiscontinuealter
   • ▪ not abolish or alter; maintain: "the rights of defendants must be retained" Similar maintainkeepcontinuepreservereserveconserveperpetuatecherishOpposite abolishdiscontinuealter
   • ▪ keep in one's memory: "I retained a few French words and phrases" Similar remembermemorizekeep in one's mindkeep in one's memorylearnlearn by heartget by heartcommit to memoryget down patlearn by roteimpress on the memorybecome word-perfect inrecallcall to mindrecollectthink ofsucceed in rememberingget off patarchaic:conOpposite forget
   • 2. absorb and continue to hold (a substance): "limestone is known to retain water"
   • 3. keep (something) in place; hold fixed: "the successful design of a cartridge belt requires that the cartridges in it be properly located and retained in that position"
   • 4. keep (someone) engaged in one's service: "he has been retained as a freelance" Similar employcommissioncontractpaykeep on the payrollhave in employmenthireengageappointrecruitput on the payrollsecure the services ofsign onsign uptake ontake into one's employOpposite dismiss
   • ▪ secure the services of (a barrister) with a preliminary payment: "retain a barrister to handle the client's business"

   Word Origin late Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Old French retenir, from Latin retinere, from re- ‘back’ + tenere ‘hold’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. retainability noun
   • 2. retainable adjective
   • 3. retainment noun

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › retainRetain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › retain

   • Cached

   The meaning of RETAIN is to keep in possession or use. How to use retain in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Retain.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishRETAIN | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   RETAIN definition: 1. to keep or continue to have something: 2. If a substance retains something, such as heat or…. Learn more.

4. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishRETAIN definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   to be able to hold or contain. soil that retains water. 3. (of a person) to be able to remember (information, facts, etc) without difficulty. 4. to hold in position. 5. to keep for one's future use, as by paying a retainer or nominal charge. to retain one's rooms for the holidays.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › retainRetain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › retain

   Retain means to hold on to or keep. People who can retain a lot of information are often mistaken for geniuses, but really they just have very good memories. To retain is to keep or maintain, whether in mind, possession or a certain condition.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › retainRETAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › retain

   • Cached

   verb (used with object) to keep possession of. Synonyms: preserve, hold. Antonyms: lose, loose. to continue to use, practice, etc.: to retain an old custom. to continue to hold or have: to retain a prisoner in custody; a cloth that retains its color. to keep in mind; remember.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-wordRETAIN - Find out everything about this English word | Collins

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-word

   • Cached

   Definitions of 'retain'. 1. To retain something means to continue to have that thing. [formal] [...] 2. If you retain a lawyer, you pay him or her a fee to make sure that he or she will represent you when your case comes before the court. [law] [...] More.

8. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › retainretain | meaning of retain in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › retain

   • Cached

   retain meaning, definition, what is retain: to keep something or continue to have so...: Learn more.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryRETAIN - All you need to know about it | Collins English ...

   www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   To retain something means to continue to have that thing. [formal] [...] More. English for Special Purposes. in Insurance. If an insurer retains a risk, it keeps it rather than reinsuring. More. Conjugations of 'retain' present simple: I retain, you retain [...] past simple: I retained, you retained [...] past participle: retained. More.

10. www.yourdictionary.com › retainRetain Definition & Meaning - YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › retain

    • Cached

    verb. retained, retaining, retains. To hold or keep in possession. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. To keep in a fixed state or condition. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. To continue to have or hold in.

11. www.thefreedictionary.com › retainRetain - definition of retain by The Free Dictionary

    www.thefreedictionary.com › retain

    • Cached

    1. to keep in one's possession. 2. to be able to hold or contain: soil that retains water. 3. (of a person) to be able to remember (information, facts, etc) without difficulty. 4. to hold in position.