Retain definition
Retain is defined as to keep, hold on to or keep in place.
An example of retain is to keep a prized possession from childhood.
An example of retain is for mouth-gear to keep the teeth in place.
verb
To keep in mind; remember.
Retains the songs she learned in childhood.
verb
(educ.) To require (a student who has failed) to repeat a grade in school.
verb
To hold or keep in possession.
verb
To require (a student) to repeat a class or grade because of insufficient educational progress to advance.
verb
To keep in a particular place or condition.
A library that retains the author's papers; plants that retain a lot of water.
verb
To keep in one's service or pay.
Retain employees on a workforce.
verb
To hire (an attorney, for example) by the payment of a fee.
verb
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To keep possession of; continue to have.
The family sold the house but retained the land.
verb
To keep in a fixed state or condition.
verb
To continue to have or hold in.
To retain heat.
verb
To continue to practice, use, etc.
verb
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To keep in mind.
verb
To hire, or arrange in advance for the services of, by paying a retainer.
verb
To continue to have as a feature or aspect.
Retains his good humor after all the setbacks.
verb
To hire someone for (his or her services).
verb
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Origin of retain
- Middle English retainen from Old French retenir from Latin retinēre re- re- tenēre to hold ten- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary