keep
noun.
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
Synonym: sustenance, support, living, livelihood, bread and butter
noun.
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
Synonym: donjon, dungeon
noun.
a cell in a jail or prison
Synonym: hold
verb.
cause to continue 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
Synonym: hold, maintain
verb.
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
Synonym: continue, go along, go on, proceed
verb.
retain possession of
Can I keep my old stuffed animals?|She kept her maiden name after she married
Synonym: hold on
verb.
stop (someone or something) 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
Synonym: prevent
verb.
conform one's action or practice to
keep appointments|she never keeps her promises|We kept to the original conditions of the contract
Synonym: observe
verb.
stick to correctly or closely
The pianist kept time with the metronome|keep count|I cannot keep track of all my employees
Synonym: maintain, observe
verb.
look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
He keeps the shop when I am gone
verb.
maintain by writing regular records
keep a diary|maintain a record|keep notes
Synonym: maintain
verb.
supply with room and board
He is keeping three women in the guest cottage|keep boarders
verb.
allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
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|She retained her composure|this garment retains its shape even after many washings
Synonym: continue, keep on, retain
verb.
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
Synonym: maintain, sustain
verb.
fail to spoil or rot
These potatoes keep for a long time
Synonym: stay fresh
verb.
behave as expected during of holidays or rites
Keep the commandments|celebrate Christmas|Observe Yom Kippur
Synonym: celebrate, observe
verb.
maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
May God keep you
Synonym: preserve
verb.
raise
She keeps a few chickens in the yard|he keeps bees
verb.
retain rights to
keep my job for me while I give birth|keep my seat, please|keep open the possibility of a merger
Synonym: hold open, keep open, save
verb.
store or keep customarily
Where do you keep your gardening tools?
verb.
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
verb.
maintain for use and service
I keep a car in the countryside|She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
Synonym: maintain
verb.
hold and prevent from leaving
The student was kept after school
verb.
prevent the action or expression of
hold back your anger|keep your cool|she struggled to restrain her impatience at the delays
Synonym: restrain, keep back, hold back
verb.
prevent (food) from rotting
preserved meats|keep potatoes fresh
Synonym: preserve
Antonym: break, lose