detention

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a punishment in which a student must stay at school after others have gone home

   the detention of tardy pupils

2. 2
   noun

   a state of being confined, usually for a short time

   Their detention was politically motivated.

3. 3
   noun

   The act of detaining or the state of being detained; hindrance.

   In the case of rail-borne traffic, permission is given to each sender to load and forward his traffic so that it will be available for loading into the vessel with a minimum of detention to wagons, unless arrangements have been made for the traffic to be put into store to await the arrival of the ship.

4. 4
   noun

   A temporary state of custody or confinement.

5. 5
   noun

   The bare physical control without the mental element of intention required for possession.

6. 6
   name

   A locality in Circular Head Council, north western Tasmania, Australia.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French détention, from Latin detentio, detentionem. Equivalent to detain + -tion.