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Verb: retain  ri'teyn
  1. Hold back within
    "This soil retains water"; "I retain this drug for a long time"; "the dam retains the water"
     
  2. Allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
    "She retains a lawyer"; "this garment retains its shape even after many washings";
    - continue, keep, keep on
     
  3. Secure and keep for possible future use or application
    "The landlord retained the security deposit";
    - hold, keep back, hold back
     
  4. Keep in one's mind
    "I cannot retain so much information"

Derived forms: retaining, retained, retains

Type of: bear, carry, contain, hold, hold on, keep, keep up, prolong, remember, sustain, think of

Encyclopedia: Retain