prison Hear it!

prison definition

prison (priz′ən)

noun

  1. a place where persons are confined
    1. a building, usually with cells, where convicted criminals, esp. those serving longer sentences, are confined
    2. such a place for holding accused persons who are awaiting, or on, trial
  3. the state or condition of being confined, restricted, or limited in any way in the prison of his own desires

Etymology: OFr < L < prensio, for prehensio, a taking < prehendere, to take: see prehensile

transitive verb

Archaic imprison

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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