keep
keep /ˈkiːp/
noun
-
A cell in a jail or prison
(
hold
, keep
)
a cell in a jail or prison
-
The main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
(
donjon
, keep
, dungeon
)
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
The castle's dungeon was cold and damp, with thick stone walls.
The castle's dungeon was cold and damp, with thick stone walls.
-
The financial means whereby one lives
(
keep
, sustenance
, bread and butter
, livelihood
, living
, support
)
the financial means whereby one lives
Each child was expected to pay for their keep
each child was expected to pay for their keep
He applied to the state for support
he applied to the state for support
He could no longer earn his own livelihood
he could no longer earn his own livelihood
verb
-
(
)
Cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., keep clean'
(
maintain
, hold
, keep
)
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., keep clean'
Hold in place
hold in place
She always held herself as a lady
She always held herself as a lady
The students keep me on my toes
The students keep me on my toes
-
()
Continue a certain state, condition, or activity
(
proceed
, go along
, keep
, continue
, go on
)
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
Keep on working!
Keep on working!
We continued to work into the night
We continued to work into the night
Keep smiling
Keep smiling
We went on working until well past midnight
We went on working until well past midnight
-
()
Retain possession of
(
hold on
, keep
)
retain possession of
Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
She kept her maiden name after she married
She kept her maiden name after she married
-
()
Stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
(
keep
, prevent
)
stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
We must prevent the cancer from spreading
We must prevent the cancer from spreading
His snoring kept me from falling asleep
His snoring kept me from falling asleep
Keep the child from eating the marbles
Keep the child from eating the marbles
-
()
Conform one's action or practice to
(
observe
, keep
)
conform one's action or practice to
Keep appointments
keep appointments
She never keeps her promises
she never keeps her promises
We kept to the original conditions of the contract
We kept to the original conditions of the contract
-
()
Stick to correctly or closely
(
maintain
, observe
, keep
)
stick to correctly or closely
The pianist kept time with the metronome
The pianist kept time with the metronome
Keep count
keep count
I cannot keep track of all my employees
I cannot keep track of all my employees
-
()
Look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
(
keep
)
look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
He keeps the shop when I am gone
He keeps the shop when I am gone
-
()
Maintain by writing regular records
(
maintain
, keep
)
maintain by writing regular records
Keep a diary
keep a diary
Maintain a record
maintain a record
Keep notes
keep notes
-
()
Supply with necessities and support
(
sustain
, keep
, maintain
)
supply with necessities and support
She alone sustained her family
She alone sustained her family
The money will sustain our good cause
The money will sustain our good cause
There's little to earn and many to keep
There's little to earn and many to keep
-
()
Allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
(
keep on
, continue
, retain
, keep
)
allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
We cannot continue several servants any longer
We cannot continue several servants any longer
She retains a lawyer
She retains a lawyer
The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
We kept the work going as long as we could
We kept the work going as long as we could
She retained her composure
She retained her composure
This garment retains its shape even after many washings
this garment retains its shape even after many washings
-
()
Supply with room and board
(
keep
)
supply with room and board
He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
Keep boarders
keep boarders
-
()
Behave as expected during of holidays or rites
(
keep
, observe
, celebrate
)
behave as expected during of holidays or rites
Keep the commandments
Keep the commandments
Celebrate Christmas
celebrate Christmas
Observe Yom Kippur
Observe Yom Kippur
-
()
Fail to spoil or rot
(
stay fresh
, keep
)
fail to spoil or rot
These potatoes keep for a long time
These potatoes keep for a long time
-
()
Maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
(
preserve
, keep
)
maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
May God keep you
May God keep you
-
Prevent (food) from rotting
(
keep
, preserve
)
prevent (food) from rotting
Preserved meats
preserved meats
Keep potatoes fresh
keep potatoes fresh
-
Prevent the action or expression of
(
hold back
, keep
, keep back
, restrain
)
prevent the action or expression of
Hold back your anger
hold back your anger
Keep your cool
keep your cool
She struggled to restrain her impatience at the delays
she struggled to restrain her impatience at the delays
-
Hold and prevent from leaving
(
keep
)
hold and prevent from leaving
The student was kept after school
The student was kept after school
-
Maintain for use and service
(
keep
, maintain
)
maintain for use and service
I keep a car in the countryside
I keep a car in the countryside
She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
-
Have as a supply
(
keep
)
have as a supply
I always keep batteries in the freezer
I always keep batteries in the freezer
Keep food for a week in the pantry
keep food for a week in the pantry
She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator
She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator
-
Store or keep customarily
(
keep
)
store or keep customarily
Where do you keep your gardening tools?
Where do you keep your gardening tools?
-
Retain rights to
(
hold open
, keep
, keep open
, save
)
retain rights to
Keep my job for me while I give birth
keep my job for me while I give birth
Keep my seat, please
keep my seat, please
Keep open the possibility of a merger
keep open the possibility of a merger
-
Raise
(
keep
)
raise
She keeps a few chickens in the yard
She keeps a few chickens in the yard
He keeps bees
he keeps bees
