keep (
http://definr.com/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]
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: 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] [ant:
discontinue]
3: retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"
"She kept her maiden name after she married" [syn: {hold
on}] [ant:
lose]
4: prevent 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] [ant:
let]
5: conform one's action or practice to; "keep appointments";
"she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original
conditions of the contract" [syn:
observe]
6: observe correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with
the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all
my employees" [syn:
observe,
maintain]
7: look after; be the keeper of; have charge of; "He keeps the
shop when I am gone"
8: maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary";
"maintain a record"; "keep notes" [syn:
maintain]
9: supply with room and board; "He is keeping three women in
the guest cottage"; "keep boarders"
10: allow to remain in a place or position; "We cannot continue
several servants any longer"; "She retains a lawyer";
"The family's 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" [syn:
retain,
continue,
keep on,
keep going]
11: supply with necessities and support: "She alone sustained
her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause";
"There's little to earn and many to keep" [syn:
sustain,
maintain]
12: fail to spoil or rot; "These potatoes keep for a long time"
[syn:
stay fresh]
13: celebrate, as of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments";
"celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur" [syn:
observe,
celebrate]
14: keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep
your temper"; "keep your cool" [syn:
restrain,
suppress,
keep back,
hold back]
15: maintain in safety form injury, harm, or danger; "May God
keep you" [syn:
preserve]
16: raise; "She keeps a few chickens in the yard"; "he keeps
bees"
17: 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]
18: store or keep customarily; "Where do you keep your gardening
tools?"
19: 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"
20: maintain for use and service; "I keep a car in the
countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her
shopping trips" [syn:
maintain]
21: hold and prevent from leaving; "The student was kept after
school"
22: prevent from rotting, of foods; "preserved meats"; "keep
potatoes fresh" [syn:
preserve]