retain

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To keep or continue to have something.

   Despite the changes, the town has retained much of its old charm.

2. 2
   verb

   To keep something in place instead of removing it.

   The school decided to retain its traditional uniform.

3. 3
   verb

   To remember information.

   Young children can retain new vocabulary remarkably quickly.

4. 4
   verb

   To hold liquid inside instead of letting it through.

   This type of soil retains water very well.

5. 5
   verb

   To hire someone, especially a lawyer, for your service.

   They retained a top lawyer to handle the case.

Common collocations

• retain a client Verb + noun

From Late Middle English reteinen, retein (“to continue to keep, retain; to continue to possess; to possess; to contain; to draw back, retire; to hold back, restrain; to keep in mind, remember; to take back, repossess; to appoint; to engage in one’s service, employ, hire”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman reteiner, retenir [and other forms], Middle French retenir, and Old French retenir (“to keep back, retain; to keep, maintain, preserve; to possess; to engage in one’s service, employ; to detain; to hold back, restrain; to remember”) (modern French retenir), from Vulgar Latin *retinīre, fr…

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