n. a keep or other fortified tower in a castle; "The watcher stood on top of the donjon looking for attackers."

n. a cell in a jail or prison

n. 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"

n. a game of marbles in which the players keep the marbles they have won

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

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

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

v. 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"

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

v. 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"

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

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

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

v. 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"

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

v. 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"

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

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

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

v. 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"

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

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