detain detain /dɪˈteɪn/ verb [T often passive] ↑Verb Endings for detain
1 F0 to force someone officially to stay in a place: » A suspect has been detained by the police for further questioning.» Several of the injured were detained overnight in hospital.Thesaurus+: ↑Putting people in prison2 F0 to delay someone for a short length of time: » I'm sorry I'm late - I was unavoidably detained.Thesaurus+: ↑Delaying and wasting timedetain sb at His/Her Majesty's pleasure UK LEGAL3 F0 to keep someone in prison for as long as the courts feel is necessary Thesaurus+: ↑Putting people in prison |