retention

retention definition - medical

re·ten·tion (rĭ-tĕnˈshən)

noun
  1. Involuntary withholding by the body of wastes or secretions that are normally eliminated.
  2. The holding by the body of what normally belongs in it, such as food in the stomach.
  3. An ability to recall or recognize what has been learned or experienced; memory.
  4. In dentistry, a period following orthodontic treatment when a patient wears an appliance or appliances to stabilize the teeth in their new position.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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