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 from 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 (food) from rotting; "preserved meats"; "keep
         potatoes fresh" [syn: {preserve}]
     [also: {kept}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0