retain

retain
re|tain
W2S2 [rıˈteın] v [T] formal
[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: retenir, from Latin retinere, from tenere 'to hold']
1.) to keep something or continue to have something
You have the right to retain possession of the goods.
The state wants to retain control of food imports.
2.) to store or keep something inside something else
A lot of information can be retained in your computer.
Limestone is known to retain moisture.
3.) to remember information
I find it very difficult to retain facts.
4.) if you retain a lawyer or other specialist, you pay them to work for you now and in the future
He has retained a lawyer to challenge the court's decision.
We had to pay a retaining fee (=an amount of money to keep someone working for you) .
5.) if a company retains workers, it continues to employ them for a long time
It's increasingly difficult to recruit and retain good staff.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • RETAIN — is a mainframe based database system, accessed via IBM 3270 terminals (or more likely, emulators), used internally within IBM providing service support to IBM field personnel and customers.The acronym RETAIN stands for REmote Technical Assistance …   Wikipedia

  • retain — re‧tain [rɪˈteɪn] verb [transitive] 1. to keep something or to continue to have it: • A duplicate copy of the invoice will be retained for record purposes. • Following the merger, the family will retain a 1.9% stake in the company. 2 …   Financial and business terms

  • Retain — Re*tain (r[ e]*t[=a]n ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Retained} (r[ e]*t[=a]nd ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Retaining}.] [F. retainir, L. retinere; pref. re re + tenere to hold, keep. See {Tenable}, and cf. {Rein} of a bridle, {Retention}, {Retinue}.] 1. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • retain — re·tain /ri tān/ vt 1: to keep in possession or use 2: to keep in one s pay or service; specif: to employ (as a lawyer) by paying a retainer Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • retain — [v1] hold on to physically or mentally absorb, bear in mind, cling to, clutch, contain, detain, enjoy, grasp, hand onto, have, hold, hold fast, husband, keep, keep in mind, keep possession, maintain, memorize, mind, own, possess, preserve, put… …   New thesaurus

  • retain — [ri tān′] vt. [ME reteynen < OFr retenir < LL * retenere, for L retinere < re , back + tenere, to hold: see THIN] 1. to hold or keep in possession 2. to keep in a fixed state or condition 3. to continue to have or hold in [to retain… …   English World dictionary

  • Retain — Re*tain , v. i. 1. To belong; to pertain. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness. Boyle. [1913 Webster] 2. To keep; to continue; to remain. [Obs.] Donne. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • retain — (v.) late 14c., from O.Fr. retenir, from L. retinere hold back, from re back (see RE (Cf. re )) + tenere to hold (see TENET (Cf. tenet)). Meaning keep (another) attached to one s person, keep in service is from mid 15c.; specifically of lawyers… …   Etymology dictionary

  • retain — *keep, keep back, keep out, detain, withhold, reserve, hold, hold back Analogous words: *have, hold, own, possess, enjoy: *save, preserve, conserve Contrasted words: *discard, shed, cast: *relinquish, surrender, abandon, yield: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • retain — ► VERB 1) continue to have; keep possession of. 2) absorb and continue to hold (a substance). 3) keep in place; hold fixed. 4) keep engaged in one s service. 5) secure the services of (a barrister) with a preliminary payment. DERIVATIVES… …   English terms dictionary

  • retain — 01. It can be difficult to [retain] a lot of new vocabulary. 02. The [retention] of information is aided by repetition. 03. With our new thermos, your coffee will [retain] its temperature 25% longer than in a standard thermos. 04. Maria has… …   Grammatical examples in English

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