keep (n.)

  1. the financial means whereby one lives; each child was expected to pay for their keep; he applied to the state for support; he could no longer earn his own livelihood

    [ Syn: support , livelihood , living , bread and butter , sustenance ]

  2. the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress

    [ Syn: donjon , dungeon ]

  3. a cell in a jail or prison

    [ Syn: hold ]

    keep (v.)

  1. keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., keep clean; hold in place; She always held herself as a lady; The students keep me on my toes

    [ Syn: maintain , hold ]

  2. allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature; We cannot continue several servants any longer; She retains a lawyer; The familys fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff; Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on; We kept the work going as long as we could; She retained her composure; this garment retains its shape even after many washings

    [ Syn: retain , continue , keep on ]

  3. supply with necessities and support; She alone sustained her family; The money will sustain our good cause; Theres little to earn and many to keep

    [ Syn: sustain , maintain ]

  4. fail to spoil or rot; These potatoes keep for a long time

    [ Syn: stay fresh ]

  5. behave as expected during of holidays or rites; Keep the commandments; celebrate Christmas; Observe Yom Kippur

    [ Syn: observe , celebrate ]

  6. keep under control; keep in check; suppress a smile; Keep your temper; keep your cool

    [ Syn: restrain , keep back , hold back ]

  7. maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger; May God keep you

    [ Syn: preserve ]

  8. raise; She keeps a few chickens in the yard; he keeps bees'

  9. retain rights to; keep my job for me while I give birth; keep my seat, please; keep open the possibility of a merger

    [ Syn: keep open , hold open , save ]

  10. store or keep customarily; Where do you keep your gardening tools?'

  11. have as a supply; I always keep batteries in the freezer; keep food for a week in the pantry; She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator'

  12. continue a certain state, condition, or activity; Keep on working!; We continued to work into the night; Keep smiling; We went on working until well past midnight

    [ Syn: continue , go on , proceed , go along ]

  13. maintain for use and service; I keep a car in the countryside; She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips

    [ Syn: maintain ]

  14. hold and prevent from leaving; The student was kept after school'

  15. prevent (food) from rotting; preserved meats; keep potatoes fresh

    [ Syn: preserve ]

  16. retain possession of; Can I keep my old stuffed animals?; She kept her maiden name after she married

    [ Syn: hold on ]

  17. stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state; We must prevent the cancer from spreading; His snoring kept me from falling asleep; Keep the child from eating the marbles

    [ Syn: prevent ]

  18. conform ones action or practice to; keep appointments; she never keeps her promises; We kept to the original conditions of the contract

    [ Syn: observe ]

  19. stick to correctly or closely; The pianist kept time with the metronome; keep count; I cannot keep track of all my employees

    [ Syn: observe , maintain ]

  20. look after; be the keeper of; have charge of; He keeps the shop when I am gone'

  21. maintain by writing regular records; keep a diary; maintain a record; keep notes

    [ Syn: maintain ]

  22. supply with room and board; He is keeping three women in the guest cottage; keep boarders'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.