What does keep mean?

Definitions for keep
kipkeep

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word keep.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. support, keep, livelihood, living, bread and butter, sustenancenoun

    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"

  2. keep, donjon, dungeonnoun

    the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress

  3. hold, keepverb

    a cell in a jail or prison

  4. keep, maintain, holdverb

    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"

  5. continue, go on, proceed, go along, keepverb

    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"

  6. keep, hold onverb

    retain possession of

    "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married"

  7. prevent, keepverb

    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"

  8. observe, keepverb

    conform one's action or practice to

    "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract"

  9. observe, keep, maintainverb

    stick to correctly or closely

    "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"

  10. keepverb

    look after; be the keeper of; have charge of

    "He keeps the shop when I am gone"

  11. keep, maintainverb

    maintain by writing regular records

    "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"

  12. keepverb

    supply with room and board

    "He is keeping three women in the guest cottage"; "keep boarders"

  13. retain, continue, keep, keep onverb

    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"

  14. sustain, keep, maintainverb

    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"

  15. keep, stay freshverb

    fail to spoil or rot

    "These potatoes keep for a long time"

  16. observe, celebrate, keepverb

    behave as expected during of holidays or rites

    "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur"

  17. restrain, keep, keep back, hold backverb

    keep under control; keep in check

    "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"

  18. keep, preserveverb

    maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger

    "May God keep you"

  19. keepverb

    raise

    "She keeps a few chickens in the yard"; "he keeps bees"

  20. keep open, hold open, keep, saveverb

    retain rights to

    "keep my job for me while I give birth"; "keep my seat, please"; "keep open the possibility of a merger"

  21. keepverb

    store or keep customarily

    "Where do you keep your gardening tools?"

  22. keepverb

    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"

  23. keep, maintainverb

    maintain for use and service

    "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips"

  24. keepverb

    hold and prevent from leaving

    "The student was kept after school"

  25. preserve, keepverb

    prevent (food) from rotting

    "preserved meats"; "keep potatoes fresh"

Wiktionary

  1. keepnoun

    Care, notice

  2. keepnoun

    The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.

  3. keepnoun

    The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.

    He works as a cobbler's apprentice for his keep.

  4. keepverb

    to maintain possession of

    I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.

  5. keepverb

    to maintain the condition of

    I keep my specimens under glass to protect them.

  6. keepverb

    To remain in, to be confined to

  7. keepverb

    to wait for, keep watch for

  8. keepverb

    to restrain

    I keep my brother out of trouble by keeping him away from his friends and hard at work.

  9. keepverb

    to protect, guard (someone from something)

  10. keepverb

    to continue

    I keep taking the tablets, but to no avail.

  11. keepverb

    to remain edible or otherwise usable

  12. keepverb

    to remain in a state

    The rabbit avoided detection by keeping still.

  13. keepverb

    to act as wicket-keeper

    Godfrey Evans kept for England for many years.

  14. keepverb

    to raise; to care for

  15. keepverb

    to supply with necessities and financially support a person

  16. Etymology: kepen, from cepan, from kōpijanan (confer West Frisian kypje ‘to look’), variant of kapōnan (confer Old English capian ‘to look’, Dutch kapen ‘to seize, snatch’, German kapfen ‘to gape’, Danish kope), from ǵab-, ǵāb- (confer Lithuanian žẽbti ‘to eat reluctantly’, Russian забота ‘care, worry’).

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Keepnoun

    Etymology: from the verb.

    Pan, thou god of shepherds all,
    Which of our lambkins takest keep;
    And when our flocks into mischance doth fall,
    Doest save from mischief the unwary sheep. Edmund Spenser.

    The prison strong,
    Within whose keep the captive knights were laid:
    Was one partition of the palace-wall. Dryden.

    Youth is least looked into when they stand in most need of good keep and regard. Roger Ascham.

  2. To Keepverb

    Etymology: cepan , Saxon; kepen, old Dutch.

    I kept the field with the death of some, and flight of others. Philip Sidney, b. ii.

    We have examples in the primitive church of such as by fear being compelled to sacrifice to strange gods repented, and kept still the office of preaching the gospel. John Whitgift.

    Keep in memory what I preached unto you. 1 Cor. xv. 2.

    This charge I keep till my appointed day
    Of rend’ring up. John Milton.

    His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal. John Milton.

    You have lost a child; but you have kept one child, and are likely to do so long. William Temple, Miscel.

    If we would weigh, and keep in our minds, what we are considering, that would instruct us when we should, or should not, branch into distinctions. John Locke.

    The crown of Stephanus, first king of Hungary, was always kept in the castle of Vicegrade. Richard Knolles.

    She kept the fatal key. John Milton.

    These men of war that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron. 1 Chron. xii. 38.

    The Lord God merciful and gracious, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity. Exod. xxxiv. 7.

    I spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great people. 2 Esdr. ix. 21.

    We passed by where the duke keeps his gallies. Addison.

    Behold I am with thee to keep thee. Gen. xxviii.

    Paul dwelt with a soldier that kept him. Acts xxviii. 16.

    But what’s the cause that keeps you here with me?
    —— That I may know what keeps me here with you. Dryden.

    A man delivers money or stuff to keep. Exod. xxii. 7.

    Reserv’d from night, and kept for thee in store. John Milton.

    Some are so close and reserved, as they will not shew their wares but by a dark light; and seem always to keep back somewhat. Francis Bacon, Essays, №. 27.

    God put him in the garden of Eden to keep it. Gen. ii. 15.

    While in her girlish age she kept sheep on the moor, it chanced that a merchant saw and liked her. Carew.

    Count it thine
    To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat. John Milton.

    To know the true state, I will keep this order. Francis Bacon.

    Take this at least, this last advice my son,
    Keep a stiff rein, and move but gently on:
    The coursers of themselves will run too fast,
    Your art must be to moderate their haste. Joseph Addison, Ovid.

    While the stars and course of heav’n I keep,
    My weary’d eyes were seiz’d with fatal sleep. Dryden.

    If that idea be steadily kept to, the distinction will easily be conceived. John Locke.

    My mercy will I keep for him for ever. Psal. lxxxix.

    Shall truth fail to keep her word? John Milton.

    Ingenuous shame, and the apprehensions of displeasure, are the only true restraints: these alone ought to hold the reins, and keep the child in order. John Locke, on Education.

    Men are guilty of many faults in the exercise of this faculty of the mind, which keep them in ignorance. John Locke.

    Happy souls! who keep such a sacred dominion over their inferior and animal powers, that the sensitive tumults never rise to disturb the superior and better operations of the reasoning mind. Isaac Watts, Improvement of the Mind.

    Plexirtus, said he, this wickedness is found by thee; no good deeds of mine have been able to keep it down in thee. Philip Sidney, b. ii.

    It is hardly to be thought that any governor should so much malign his successor, as to suffer an evil to grow up which he might timely have kept under; or perhaps nourish it with coloured countenance of such sinister means. Edmund Spenser.

    What old acquaintance! could not all this flesh
    Keep in a little life? Poor Jack, farewel. William Shakespeare.

    Venus took the guard of noble Hector’s corse,
    And kept the dogs off: night and day applying sovereign force
    Of rosy balms, that to the dogs were horrible in taste. George Chapman, Iliad.

    The Chinese sail where they will; which sheweth that their law of keeping out strangers is a law of pusillanimity and fear. Francis Bacon, New Atlantis.

    And those that cannot live from him asunder,
    Ungratefully shall strive to keep him under. John Milton.

    If any ask me what wou’d satisfy,
    To make life easy, thus I would reply:
    As much as keeps out hunger, thirst, and cold. John Dryden.

    Matters, recommended by our passions, take possession of our minds, and will not be kept out. John Locke.

    Prohibited commodities should be kept out, and useless ones impoverish us by being brought in. John Locke.

    An officer with one of these unbecoming qualities, is looked upon as a proper person to keep off impertinence and solicitation from his superior. Joseph Addison, Spectator.

    And if two boots keep out the weather,
    What need you have two hides of leather. Matthew Prior.

    We have it in our power to keep in our breaths, and to suspend the efficacy of this natural function. George Cheyne.

    The house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom. 2 Chron. xxii. 9.

    Men gave ear, waited, and kept silence at my counsel. Job xxix. 21.

    Auria made no stay, but still kept on his course, and with a fair gale came directly towards Carone. Richard Knolles.

    It was then such a calm, that the ships were not able to keep way with the gallies. Richard Knolles, Hist. of the Turks.

    The moon that distance keeps till night. John Milton.

    An heap of ants on a hillock will more easily be kept to an uniformity in motion than these. Joseph Glanvill, Scep.

    He dy’d in fight:
    Fought next my person; as in consort fought:
    Kept pace for pace, and blow for blow. Dryden.

    He, being come to the estate, keeps on a very busy family; the markets are weekly frequented, and the commodities of his farm carried out and sold. John Locke.

    Invading foes, without resistance,
    With ease I make to keep their distance. Jonathan Swift.

    My son, keep the flower of thine age sound. Ecclus. xxvi.

    I rule the family very ill, and keep bad hours. Alexander Pope.

    Her servants eyes were fix’d upon her face,
    And as she mov’d or turn’d, her motions view’d,
    Her measures kept, and step by step pursu’d. Dryden.

    This shall be for a memorial; and you shall keep it a feast to the Lord. Exod. xii. 14.

    That day was not in silence holy kept. John Milton.

    It cannot be,
    The king should keep his word in loving us;
    He will suspect us still, and find a time
    To punish this offence in other faults. William Shakespeare.

    Sworn for three years term to live with me,
    My fellow scholars; and to keep those statutes
    That are recorded in this schedule here. William Shakespeare.

    Lord God, there is none like thee: who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants. 1 Kings viii. 23.

    Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant that thou promisedst him. 1 Kings viii. 25.

    Obey and keep his great command. John Milton.

    His promise Palamon accepts; but pray’d
    To keep it better than the first he made. Dryden.

    My debtors do not keep their day,
    Deny their hands and then refuse to pay. John Dryden, Juv.

    My wishes are,
    That Ptolemy may keep his royal word. Dryden.

    Much more affliction than already felt
    They cannot well impose, nor I sustain,
    If they intend advantage of my labours,
    The work of many hands, which earns my keeping. John Milton.

    Base tyke, call’st thou me host? I scorn the term; nor shall my Nell keep lodgers. William Shakespeare, Henry V.

    Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughing-stock to thine enemies, and a bye-word in the city. Ecclus. xli. 11.

    Not keeping strictest watch as she was warn’d. John Milton.

    They were honourably brought to London, where every one of them kept house by himself. John Hayward.

    Twelve Spartan virgins, noble, young, and fair,
    To the pompous palace did resort,
    Where Menelaus kept his royal court. Dryden.

    I pry’thee, tell me, doth he keep his bed. William Shakespeare.

    A fool cannot keep counsel. Ecclus. viii. 17.

    Great are thy virtues, though kept from man. John Milton.

    If he were wise, he would keep all this to himself. John Tillotson.

    If any rebel or vain spirit of mine
    Did, with the least affection of a welcome,
    Give entertainment to the might of it;
    Let heav’n for ever keep it from my head. William Shakespeare.

    Some obscure passages in the inspir’d volume keep from the knowledge of divine mysteries. Robert Boyle, on Scripture.

    If the God of this world did not blind their eyes, it would be impossible, so long as men love themselves, to keep them from being religious. John Tillotson, Sermons.

    There is no virtue children should be excited to, nor fault they should be kept from, which they may not be convinced of by reasons. John Locke, on Education.

    If a child be constantly kept from drinking cold liquor whilst he is hot, the custom of forbearing will preserve him. John Locke.

    By this they may keep them from little faults. John Locke.

    Ill fenc’d for heav’n to keep out such a foe. John Milton.

    Whatsoever the Lord shall answer, I will declare: I will keep nothing back from you. Jer. xlii. 4.

    Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins. Psal. xix.

    Heav’n doth know, so shall the world perceive,
    That I have turn’d away my former self,
    So will I those that kept me company. William Shakespeare, Henry IV.

    Why should he call her whore? Who keeps her company?
    What place? what time? William Shakespeare, Othello.

    What mean’st thou, bride! this company to keep?
    To sit up, till thou fain would sleep? John Donne.

    Neither will I wretched thee
    In death forsake, but keep thee company. Dryden.

    A virtuous woman is obliged not only to avoid immodesty, but the appearance of it; and she could not approve of a young woman keeping company with men, without the permission of father or mother. , Notes on the Odyssey.

    I perceive in you so excellent a touch of modesty, that you will not extort from me what I am willing to keep in. William Shakespeare.

    Syphax, your zeal becomes importunate:
    I've hitherto permitted it to rave,
    And talk at large; but learn to keep it in,
    Lest it should take more freedom than I'll give it. Addison.

    If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straightly, lest she abuse herself through over-much liberty. Ecclus. xxvi. 13.

    It will teach them to keep in, and so master their inclinations. John Locke, on Education.

    A superficial reading, accompanied with the common opinion of his invincible obscurity, has kept off some from seeking in him the coherence of his discourse. John Locke.

    Land kept up its price, and sold for more years purchase than corresponded to the interest of money. John Locke.

    This restraint of their tongues will keep up in them the respect and reverence due to their parents. John Locke.

    Albano keeps up its credit still for wine. Addison.

    This dangerous dissension among us we keep up and cherish with much pains. Joseph Addison, Freeholder, №. 34.

    The ancients were careful to coin money in due weight and fineness, and keep it up to the standard. Arbuthnot.

    You have enough to keep you alive, and to keep up and improve your hopes of heaven. Jeremy Taylor, holy living.

    In joy, that which keeps up the action is the desire to continue it. John Locke.

    Young heirs, from their own reflecting upon the estates they are born to, are of no use but to keep up their families, and transmit their lands and houses in a line to posterity. Joseph Addison, Spect. №. 123.

    During his studies and travels he kept up a punctual correspondence with Eudoxus. Addison.

    O happy mixture! whereby things contrary do so qualify and correct the one the danger of the other's excess, that neither boldness can make us presume, as long as we are kept under with the sense of our own wretchedness; nor, while we trust in the mercy of God through Christ Jesus, fear be able to tyrannize over us. Richard Hooker, b.v.

    Truth may be smothered a long time, and kept under by violence; but it will break out at last. Stilling fleet.

    To live like those that have their hope in another life, implies, that we keep under our appetites, and do not let them loose into the enjoyments of sense. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

  3. To Keepverb

    With all our force we kept aloof to sea,
    And gain’d the island where our vessels lay. Alexander Pope, Odys.

    A man that cannot fence will keep out of bullies and gamesters company. John Locke, on Education.

    She would give her a lesson for walking so late, that should make her keep within doors for one fortnight. Philip Sidney.

    What! keep a week away? seven days and nights?
    Eightscore hours? and lovers absent hours.
    Oh weary reckoning. William Shakespeare, Othello.

    I think, it is our way,
    If we will keep in favour with the king,
    To be her men, and wear her livery. William Shakespeare, Rich. III.

    Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended. Ruth ii. 21.

    The necessity of keeping well with the maritime powers, will persuade them to follow our measures. William Temple.

    On my better hand Ascanius hung,
    And with unequal paces tript along:
    Creusa kept behind. John Dryden, Æneis.

    The goddess born in secret pin’d;
    Nor visited the camp, nor in the council join’d;
    But keeping close, his gnawing heart he fed
    With hopes of vengeance. John Dryden, Homer.

    And while it keeps there, it keeps within our author’s limitation. John Locke.

    There are cases in which a man must guard, if he intends to keep fair with the world, and turn the penny. Collier.

    The endeavours Achilles used to meet with Hector, the contrary endeavours of the Trojan to keep out of reach are the intrigue. Alexander Pope, View of Epick Poetry.

    Disdain me not, although I be not fair:
    Doth beauty keep which never sun can burn,
    Nor storms do turn? Philip Sidney, b.i.

    Grapes will keep in a vessel half full of wine, so that the grapes touch not the wine. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist.

    If the malt be not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not keep. John Mortimer, Husbandry.

    A breath thou art,
    Servile to all the skiey influences,
    That do this habitation, where thou keepst,
    Hourly afflict. William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.

    Knock at the study, where, they say, he keeps,
    To ruminate strange plots of dire revenge. William Shakespeare.

    Did they keep to one constant dress they would sometimes be in fashion, which they never are. Joseph Addison, Spect.

    It is so whilst we keep to our rule; but when we forsake that, we go astray. Thomas Baker, Reflections on Learning.

    So chearfully he took the doom;
    Nor shrunk, nor stept from death,
    But, with unalter’d pace, kept on. Dryden.

    He grew sick of a consumption; yet he still kept up, that he might free his country. John Dryden, Life of Cleomenes.

Wikipedia

  1. KEEP

    KEEP is a commercially supported FM radio station serving the general area of Fredericksburg, Texas, due west from Austin and due north of San Antonio. KEEP is owned by J & J Fritz Media and is broadcast from Johnson City, Texas. It was one of four member stations of the Texas Rebel Radio Network which supplies Texas music programming. This programming is available as streaming audio via the KEEP/Texas Rebel Radio website.On June 24, 2011, KEEP, after three months of silence, returned to the air simulcasting country-formatted KNAF-FM 105.7.

ChatGPT

  1. keep

    Keep: To hold or retain possession of someone or something; to continue to have, maintain, or preserve someone or something in a specific state or condition; to prevent someone or something from being lost, destroyed, or taken away.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Keepverb

    to care; to desire

  2. Keepverb

    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

  3. Keepverb

    to cause to remain in a given situation or condition; to maintain unchanged; to hold or preserve in any state or tenor

  4. Keepverb

    to have in custody; to have in some place for preservation; to take charge of

  5. Keepverb

    to preserve from danger, harm, or loss; to guard

  6. Keepverb

    to preserve from discovery or publicity; not to communicate, reveal, or betray, as a secret

  7. Keepverb

    to attend upon; to have the care of; to tend

  8. Keepverb

    to record transactions, accounts, or events in; as, to keep books, a journal, etc. ; also, to enter (as accounts, records, etc. ) in a book

  9. Keepverb

    to maintain, as an establishment, institution, or the like; to conduct; to manage; as, to keep store

  10. Keepverb

    to supply with necessaries of life; to entertain; as, to keep boarders

  11. Keepverb

    to have in one's service; to have and maintain, as an assistant, a servant, a mistress, a horse, etc

  12. Keepverb

    to have habitually in stock for sale

  13. Keepverb

    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

  14. Keepverb

    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

  15. Keepverb

    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

  16. Keepverb

    to observe duty, as a festival, etc. ; to celebrate; to solemnize; as, to keep a feast

  17. Keepverb

    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

  18. Keepverb

    to last; to endure; to remain unimpaired

  19. Keepverb

    to reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell

  20. Keepverb

    to take care; to be solicitous; to watch

  21. Keepverb

    to be in session; as, school keeps to-day

  22. Keepnoun

    the act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge

  23. Keepnoun

    the state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case; as, to be in good keep

  24. Keepnoun

    the means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; as, the keep of a horse

  25. Keepnoun

    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

  26. Keepnoun

    that which is kept in charge; a charge

  27. Keepnoun

    a cap for retaining anything, as a journal box, in place

Wikidata

  1. Keep

    A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the castle fall to an adversary. The first keeps were made of timber and formed a key part of the motte and bailey castles that emerged in Normandy and Anjou during the 10th century; the design spread to England as a result of the Norman invasion of 1066, and in turn spread into Wales during the second half of the 11th century and into Ireland in the 1170s. The Anglo-Normans and French rulers began to build stone keeps during the 10th and 11th centuries; these included Norman keeps, with a square or rectangular design, and circular shell keeps. Stone keeps carried considerable political as well as military importance and could take up to a decade to build. During the 12th century new designs began to be introduced – in France, quatrefoil-shaped keeps were introduced, while in England polygonal towers were built. By the end of the century, French and English keep designs began to diverge: Philip II of France built a sequence of circular keeps as part of his bid to stamp his royal authority on his new territories, while in England castles were built that abandoned the use of keeps altogether. In Spain, keeps were increasingly incorporated into both Christian and Islamic castles, although in Germany the use of tall towers called bergfried, rather than keeps in the western fashion, were preferred. In the second half of the 14th century there was a resurgence in the building of keeps. In France, the keep at Vincennes began a fashion for tall, heavily machicolated designs, a trend adopted in Spain most prominently through the Valladolid school of Spanish castle design. Meanwhile, in England tower keeps became popular amongst the most wealthy nobles: these large keeps, each uniquely designed, formed part of the grandest castles built during the period.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Keep

    kēp, v.t. to have the care of: to guard: to maintain: to manage: to have in one's service: to hold for one's own use or enjoyment: to remain in: to adhere to: to practise: not to lose: to maintain hold upon: to restrain from departure: to preserve in a certain state: to maintain: to fulfill.—v.i. to remain in any position or state: to remain fresh: to last or endure: to continue: to adhere: to have rooms at college (Cambridge):—-pr.p. keep′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. kept.—n. that which keeps or protects: subsistence: food: the innermost and strongest part of a castle, the donjon: a stronghold.—ns. Keep′er, an attendant, manager, owner: a gamekeeper: socket, guard-ring; Keep′ership, office of a keeper; Keep′ing, care: custody: charge: (Shak.) maintenance, support: just proportion, harmony: (paint.) due proportion of light and shade; Keep′ing-room, a sitting-room, parlour; Keep′sake, something given to be kept for the sake of the giver—the name used often to be applied to the annuals or sumptuous gift-books so much in vogue about 1830.—Keep an act, to hold an academical disputation; Keep an eye on, Keep company, chapel, counsel, distance, hours, house, the peace, &c. (see the nouns); Keep a term (see Term); Keep at it, to persist in anything; Keep back, to withhold: keep down, to repress (see also Dark); Keep body and soul together, to maintain life; Keep down, to restrain; Keep from, to abstain from: to remain away from; Keep going in a thing, to keep one supplied with it; Keep in, to prevent from escaping: to confine a pupil in the schoolroom after school hours: to conceal: to restrain; Keep in with, to maintain the confidence or friendship of some one; Keep off, to hinder from approaching or making an attack; Keep one's countenance, to preserve a calm appearance, hiding one's emotions; Keep one's hand in, to retain one's skill by means of constant practice; Keep the breath to cool one's porridge, to confine attention to one's own affairs; Keep the powder dry, to keep one's energies ready for action; Keep to, to stick closely to: to confine one's self to; Keep under, to hold down in restraint; Keep up, to retain one's strength or spirit: to support, prevent from falling: to continue, to prevent from ceasing: to maintain in good condition. [A.S. cépan, orig. to traffic, hence to store up, keep—ceáp, price.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. keep

    A strong donjon or tower in the middle of a castle, usually the last resort of its garrison in a siege. Also, a reservoir for fish by the side of a river.--To keep, a term used on several occasions in navigation; as, "Keep her away," alter the ship's course to leeward, by sailing further off the wind. The reverse is, "Keep your wind, keep your luff," close to the wind.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. keep

    To maintain hold upon; not to let go of; not to lose; to retain; as, if we lose the field, we cannot keep the town.

  2. keep

    In ancient military history, a kind of strong tower, which was built in the centre of a castle or fort, to which the besieged retreated, and made their last efforts of defense. In the Norman keeps there appear to have been three stories, the lowest for stores, the second for a guard-room, and the upper, or solarium, for the family. The keep was similar to what the classical ancients called the citadel, or inner fort,—a term generally applied to modern fortification on the continent. King’s Keep, a fort built by King Henry II. in the inner part of Dover Castle is so called.

Editors Contribution

  1. keep

    To have.

    They did keep their clothes clean, neat and tidy always.


    Submitted by MaryC on February 16, 2020  

Suggested Resources

  1. KEEP

    What does KEEP stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the KEEP acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. KEEP

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Keep is ranked #26671 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Keep surname appeared 913 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Keep.

    95.7% or 874 total occurrences were White.
    2.1% or 20 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    0.8% or 8 total occurrences were of two or more races.
    0.5% or 5 total occurrences were Black.

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'keep' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #351

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'keep' in Written Corpus Frequency: #247

  3. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'keep' in Verbs Frequency: #40

Anagrams for keep »

  1. kepe

  2. peek

  3. PEEK

  4. Peke

How to pronounce keep?

How to say keep in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of keep in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of keep in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of keep in a Sentence

  1. Beth Truesdale:

    We hear these wonderful stories about people who could retire if they wanted to, but they choose to keep working because that's what they want to do, but we don't hear the stories that balance that, such as people forced to retire at 57 because their life's work was physically demanding, and their back and knees gave out.

  2. Rafael Nadal:

    Hes having a great season, one of the best of his career, if not the best, i need to be playing well. I think today I played better than yesterday, so I hope tomorrow I continue with this improvement. Thats what I need if I want to keep having chances to be through.

  3. Miles Davis:

    Bebop was about change, about evolution. It wasn't about standing still and becoming safe. If anybody wants to keep creating they have to be about change.

  4. Ian White:

    Because I'm retired I can take the load off these younger blokes, as long as I'm healthy enough I'll keep doing it because that takes the pressure off them.

  5. Hisham Zaazou:

    The impact is minimal now but if it extends longer the impact will be much more, hopefully, things will be better in the coming year but ... people are not behind doors and once things are OK they open the door and will keep rushing in. It will take some few months later after the resumption of flights.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

keep#1#656#10000

Translations for keep

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • احتفظ, يحتفظArabic
  • главна кулаBulgarian
  • guardar, desar, continuar, seguir, homenatge, torre mestra, torre de l'homenatgeCatalan, Valencian
  • pokračovat, nechat siCzech
  • cadw, gorthwrWelsh
  • borgtårn, barfred, kernetårnDanish
  • heraushalten, weiter, bewahren, behalten, weiterhin, aufheben, fernhalten, aushalten, halten, erhalten, LebensunterhaltGerman
  • κρατώ, [[κεντρικός]] [[πύργος]]Greek
  • guardar, mantener, continuar, permanecer, seguir, quedar, criar, torre del homenajeSpanish
  • pysyä, pitää, tehdä jotakin jatkuvasti, jatkaa, säilyttää, keskustorni, elantoFinnish
  • garder, continuer, conserver, donjonFrench
  • fierdergean, hâldeWestern Frisian
  • comhlíon, coinnigh, coimeád, daingean, doinsiúnIrish
  • cùm, glèidh, daingneachScottish Gaelic
  • kitart, tart, eltart, vártoronyHungarian
  • պահպանել, պահել, շարունակելArmenian
  • simpan, menjagaIndonesian
  • rimanere, tenere, seguitare, trattenere, continuare, restare, torrione, mantenimentoItalian
  • 保持, 継続, 維持, 抑止, 飼う, 保つ, 確保, 留まる, 続行Japanese
  • მთავარი გოდოლიGeorgian
  • 유지Korean
  • кармоо, улантуу, сактоо, башкы мунараKyrgyz
  • teneo, reservare, retinereLatin
  • чува, држи, главна кула, издршкаMacedonian
  • സൂക്ഷിക്കുക, സംരക്ഷിക്കുക, സംരക്ഷണംMalayalam
  • behouden, houdenDutch
  • fortsette, beholde, bevare, forpleining, underhold, borgtårnNorwegian
  • deixar, manter, guardar, seguir, conter, continuar, permanecer, criar, manter-se, torre de menagem, apoioPortuguese
  • ține, păstraRomanian
  • продолжить, содержать, сохранять, остаться, хранить, сохранить, оставаться, сдержать, продолжать, держать, сдерживатьRussian
  • hålla, bevara, fortsätta, behållaSwedish
  • เก็บ, คอย, หมั่น, เอาไว้Thai
  • saklamak, tutmak, bakmak, devam etmek, durmakTurkish
  • триматиUkrainian
  • giữVietnamese
  • kipön, kipedönVolapük
  • wårderWalloon

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    A ignominy
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