keep

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"

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

a cell in a jail or prison

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"

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"

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

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"

conform one's action or practice to; "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract"

stick to correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"

look after; be the keeper of; have charge of; "He keeps the shop when I am gone"

maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"

supply with room and board; "He is keeping three women in the guest cottage"; "keep boarders"

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"

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"

fail to spoil or rot; "These potatoes keep for a long time"

behave as expected during of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur"

keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"

maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger; "May God keep you"

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

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

store or keep customarily; "Where do you keep your gardening tools?"

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"

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

hold and prevent from leaving; "The student was kept after school"

prevent (food) from rotting; "preserved meats"; "keep potatoes fresh"