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de·tain
 detain
- pronunciation:
- dih
teIn
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
detained, detaining, detains |
| definition 1: |
to prevent from going on; stop or delay.
Heavy traffic detained me.- synonyms:
- delay, keep
- similar words:
- buttonhole, collar, hang up, hinder, hold, impede, retain, retard, slow, stay, stop
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| definition 2: |
to hold in confinement.
The police detained her for twelve hours.- synonyms:
- hold, imprison, keep
- antonyms:
- release
- similar words:
- arrest, confine, immure, incarcerate, lock up, restrain, retain
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| related words: |
apprehend, bust, thwart |
| derivations: |
detainable (adj.), detainment (n.) |
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