"keep" Definition

Definitions for the word "keep" from multiple English dictionaries.

1. v. t.
To care; to desire.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. v. t.
To hold; to restrain from departure or removal; not to let go of; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose; to retain; to detain.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. v. t.
To cause to remain in a given situation or condition; to maintain unchanged; to hold or preserve in any state or tenor.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. v. t.
To have in custody; to have in some place for preservation; to take charge of.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. v. t.
To preserve from danger, harm, or loss; to guard.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. v. t.
To preserve from discovery or publicity; not to communicate, reveal, or betray, as a secret.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. v. t.
To attend upon; to have the care of; to tend.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. v. t.
To record transactions, accounts, or events in; as, to keep books, a journal, etc. ; also, to enter (as accounts, records, etc. ) in a book.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. v. t.
To maintain, as an establishment, institution, or the like; to conduct; to manage; as, to keep store.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. v. t.
To supply with necessaries of life; to entertain; as, to keep boarders.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. v. t.
To have in one's service; to have and maintain, as an assistant, a servant, a mistress, a horse, etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. v. t.
To have habitually in stock for sale.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. v. t.
To continue in, as a course or mode of action; not to intermit or fall from; to hold to; to maintain; as, to keep silence; to keep one's word; to keep possession.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. v. t.
To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate; to practice or perform, as duty; not to neglect; to be faithful to.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
15. v. t.
To confine one's self to; not to quit; to remain in; as, to keep one's house, room, bed, etc. ; hence, to haunt; to frequent.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
16. v. t.
To observe duty, as a festival, etc. ; to celebrate; to solemnize; as, to keep a feast.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
17. v. i.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
18. v. i.
To last; to endure; to remain unimpaired.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
19. v. i.
To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
20. v. i.
To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
21. v. i.
To be in session; as, school keeps to-day.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
22. n.
The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
23. n.
The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case; as, to be in good keep.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
24. n.
The means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; as, the keep of a horse.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
25. n.
That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; a castle; specifically, the strongest and securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the donjon. See Illust. of Castle.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
26. n.
That which is kept in charge; a charge.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
27. n.
A cap for retaining anything, as a journal box, in place.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
28. v.
(past and past part. Kept) 1 have continuous charge of; retain possession of. 2 (foll. By for) retain or reserve for (a future time) (kept it for later). 3 retain or remain in a specified condition, position, place, etc. (keep cool; keep out; keep them happy; knives are kept here). 4 (foll. By from) restrain, hold back. 5 detain (what kept you?). 6 observe, honour, or respect (a law, custom, commitment, secret, etc.) (keep one''s word; keep the sabbath). 7 own and look after (animals). 8 a clothe, feed, maintain, etc. (a person, oneself, etc.). B (foll. By in) maintain (a person) with a supply of. 9 carry on; manage (a business etc.). 10 maintain (a diary, house, accounts, etc.) Regularly and in proper order. 11 normally have on sale (do you keep buttons?). 12 guard or protect (a person or place). 13 preserve (keep order). 14 (foll. By verbal noun) continue; repeat habitually (keeps telling me). 15 continue to follow (a way or course). 16 a (esp. Of food) remain in good condition. B (of news etc.) Not suffer from delay in telling. 17 (often foll. By to) remain in (one''s bed, room, etc.). 18 maintain (a person) as one''s mistress etc. (kept woman). n. 1 maintenance, food, etc. (hardly earn your keep). 2 hist. Tower, esp. The central stronghold of a castle. for keeps colloq. Permanently, indefinitely. How are you keeping? How are you? Keep at (cause to) persist with. Keep away (often foll. By from) avoid, prevent from being near. Keep back 1 remain or keep at a distance. 2 retard the progress of. 3 conceal. 4 withhold (kept back £50). Keep down 1 hold in subjection. 2 keep low in amount. 3 stay hidden. 4 not vomit (food eaten). Keep one''s hair on see *hair. Keep one''s hand in see *hand. Keep in with remain on good terms with. Keep off 1 (cause to) stay away from. 2 ward off. 3 abstain from. 4 avoid (a subject) (let''s keep off religion). Keep on 1 continue; do continually (kept on laughing). 2 continue to employ. 3 (foll. By at) nag. Keep out 1 keep or remain outside. 2 exclude. Keep to 1 adhere to (a course, promise, etc.). 2 confine oneself to. Keep to oneself 1 avoid contact with others. 2 keep secret. Keep track of see *track. Keep under repress. Keep up 1 maintain (progress, morale, etc.). 2 keep in repair etc. 3 carry on (a correspondence etc.). 4 prevent from going to bed. 5 (often foll. By with) not fall behind.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884

Dictionary entries nearby:

Additional Info
This page provides a list of definitions and meanings for "keep" from various historical English dictionaries. By displaying multiple definitions, you can compare and contrast different meanings and nuances of a word, phrase, or slang. You can also see the changes in meaning of "keep" over time by viewing the definitions from different dictionaries published at different times in history. The page also includes other information to help users expand their vocabulary and understand the context of the word.

Important Notes
The definitions for words, phrases and slang (such as "keep") in this dictionary are sourced from multiple sources - including sources historical in nature. The sources may contain outdated, inaccurate or even offensive information when viewed from a modern context. It is important to consider the date the dictionary was published and view such content from a historical perspective and consider that the meanings, interpretations and usage of words may have evolved over time. Users should cross-reference this information with contemporary sources for a more complete understanding.

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by any brands mentioned on the page. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only.