Definitions of KEEP in various dictionaries:
noun -
the financial means whereby one lives
noun -
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
noun -
a cell in a jail or prison
verb -
keep in a certain state, position, or activity
verb -
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
verb -
retain possession of
verb -
stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
verb -
conform one's action or practice to
verb -
stick to correctly or closely
verb -
look after
verb -
maintain by writing regular records
verb -
supply with room and board
verb -
allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
verb -
supply with necessities and support
verb -
fail to spoil or rot
verb -
behave as expected during of holidays or rites
verb -
keep under control
verb -
maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
verb -
raise
verb -
retain rights to
verb -
store or keep customarily
verb -
have as a supply
verb -
maintain for use and service
verb -
hold and prevent from leaving
verb -
prevent (food) from rotting
To retain possession of: kept the change; must keep your equanimity.
To have as a supply: keep a cord of wood in the shed.
To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support: “There’s little to earn and many to keep” (Charles Kingsley).
To put customarily; store: Where do you keep your saw? 5.
To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
To raise: keep chickens.
To maintain for use or service: a city dweller who didn’t keep a car.
To manage, tend, or have charge of: Keep the shop while I’m away.
To preserve (food).
To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action: attempted to keep the patient calm.
To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
To detain: was kept after school.
To restrain: kept the child away from the hot stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To maintain: keep late hours.
To adhere to; fulfill: keep one’s word; keep a busy schedule.
To celebrate; observe.
To remain in a state or condition; stay: keep in line; keep quiet; kept well.
To continue to do: keep on talking; keep guessing.
To remain fresh or unspoiled: The dessert won’t keep.
Care; charge: The child is in my keep for the day.
The means by which one is supported: earn one’s keep.
The stronghold of a castle.
A jail.
To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept up.
To continue at the same level or pace.
To match one’s competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: unsuccessfully tried to keep up with his associates.
For an indefinitely long period: gave the ring to me for keeps.
To stay out of trouble.
To indicate the correct time.
To maintain the tempo or rhythm.
To shun the company of others: She kept to herself all morning.
These verb s mean to have and maintain in one’s possession or control.
adj - to continue to possess [v KEPT, KEEPING, KEEPS] : KEEPABLE