retain

• Verb

  1. Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
  2. Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
  3. Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.
  4. Of a thing: to hold or keep (something) inside it; to contain.
  5. To hold (something) secure; to prevent (something) from becoming detached or separated.
  6. To keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something); to keep back.
  7. To keep (something) in control or possession; to continue having (something); to keep back.
  8. To keep (something) in place or use, instead of removing or abolishing it; to preserve.
  9. To engage or hire (someone), especially temporarily.
  10. To engage or hire (someone), especially temporarily.
  11. To keep (someone) in one's pay or service; also, (chiefly historical) to maintain (someone) as a dependent or follower.
  12. To control or restrain (oneself); to exercise self-control over (oneself).
  13. To keep (someone) in custody; to prevent (someone) from leaving.
  14. To declare (a sin) not forgiven.
  15. To keep in control or possession; to continue having.
  16. To have the ability to keep something in the mind; to use the memory.
  17. Of a body or body organ: to hold back tissue or a substance.
  18. (obsolete) To refrain from doing something.
  19. (obsolete) To be a dependent or follower to someone.
  20. (obsolete) To continue, to remain.

• Noun