keep

keep
verb (past and past participle kept)
1》 have or retain possession of.
    ↘retain or reserve for use in the future.
    ↘put or store in a regular place.
    ↘(of a perishable commodity) remain in good condition.
2》 continue or cause to continue in a specified condition, position, or activity: keep away from the edge|she kept quiet about it.
3》 provide for the sustenance of.
    ↘own and look after (an animal).
    ↘[as adjective kept] supported financially in return for sexual favours.
4》 delay or detain; cause to be late.
5》 honour or fulfil (a commitment or undertaking).
    ↘observe or pay due regard to (a law, custom, or religious occasion).
6》 regularly make entries in (a diary).
    ↘write down as (a record): keep a note of each item.
noun
1》 food, clothes, and other essentials for living.
2》 archaic charge; control.
3》 the strongest or central tower of a castle.
Phrases
for keeps informal permanently; indefinitely.
Phrasal verbs
keep at (or keep someone at) persist (or force someone to persist) with.
keep from (or keep someone from) avoid (or cause someone to avoid) doing something.
keep something from
1》 cause something to remain a secret from (someone).
2》 cause something to stay out of: she couldn't keep the dismay from her voice.
keep someone from guard or protect someone from.
keep off avoid encroaching on.
↘avoid consuming: the first thing was to keep off alcohol.
↘avoid (a topic).
keep on continue to do something.
keep on about speak about (something) repeatedly.
keep on at Brit. harass with constant requests.
keep someone/thing on continue to use or employ someone or something.
keep to
1》 avoid leaving (a path, road, or place).
2》 adhere to (a schedule).
3》 observe (a promise).
4》 confine or restrict oneself to.
keep up move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else.
keep up with
1》 learn about or be aware of (current events or developments).
2》 continue to be in contact with (someone).
3》 meet a regular commitment to pay or do (something).
keep something up continue a course of action.
Derivatives
keepable adjective
Origin
OE cēpan 'seize, take in', also 'care for, attend to', of unknown origin.

English new terms dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Keep — (k[=e]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Kept} (k[e^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Keeping}.] [OE. k[=e]pen, AS. c[=e]pan to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.] 1. To care; to desire. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep — [kiːp] verb kept PTandPP [kept] 1. [transitive] to store something that will be useful: • The Credit Reference Agency keeps files on individuals debt records. • You should keep a supply of forms. 2 …   Financial and business terms

  • Keep — Keep, v. i. 1. To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out reach.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep — vb 1 Keep, observe, celebrate, solemnize, commemorate are comparable when they mean to pay proper attention or honor to something prescribed, obligatory, or demanded (as by one s nationality, religion, or rank), but they vary widely in their… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • keep — [kēp] vt. kept, keeping [ME kepen < OE cœpan, to behold, watch out for, lay hold of, akin to MLowG kapen, ON kopa, to stare at < ? IE base * ĝab , to look at or for] 1. to observe or pay regard to; specif., a) to observe with due or… …   English World dictionary

  • keep — ► VERB (past and past part. kept) 1) have or retain possession of. 2) retain or reserve for use in the future. 3) put or store in a regular place. 4) (of a perishable commodity) remain in good condition. 5) continue in a specified condition,… …   English terms dictionary

  • Keep — Keep, n. 1. The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Pan, thou god of shepherds all, Which of our tender lambkins takest keep. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. The state of being kept; hence, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep — keep; green·keep·er; house·keep; house·keep·er; keep·able; keep·er·ing; keep·er·ship; keep·sake; store·keep; keep·er; …   English syllables

  • Keep — 〈f. 20; Seemannsspr.〉 Kerbe, Rille * * * Keep, die; , en [aus dem Niederd. < mniederd. kēp, wohl verw. mit ↑ kappen] (Seemannsspr.): Rille, Kerbe (in einer Boje, einem Block, Mast o. Ä.), die einem darumgelegten Tau Halt gibt. * * * I Keep   …   Universal-Lexikon

  • keep — I (continue) verb be constant, be steadfast, carry forward, carry on, endure, extend, forge ahead, go on, keep going, last, lengthen, live on, maintain, move ahead, never cease, perpetuate, perseverare, persevere, persist, press onward, progress …   Law dictionary

  • keep — The construction keep + object + from + ing verb is idiomatic in current English: • His hands held flat over his ears as if to keep his whole head from flying apart Martin Amis, 1978. The intransitive use of keep + from + ing verb is recorded in… …   Modern English usage

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