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retention |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Retention \Re*ten"tion\, n. [L. retentio: cf F. r['e]tention. See {Retain}.] 1. The act of retaining, or the state of being ratined. 2. The power of retaining; retentiveness. No woman's heart So big to hold so much they lack retention. --Shak. 3. That which contains something as a tablet; a ???? of preserving impressions. [R.] --Shak. 4. The act of withholding; retraint; reserve. --Shak. 5. Place of custody or confinement. 6. (Law) The right of withholding a debt, or of retaining property until a debt due to the person claiming the right be duly paid; a lien. --Erskine. Craig. {Retention cyst} (Med.), a cyst produced by obstruction of a duct leading from a secreting organ and the consequent retention of the natural secretions. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: retention n 1: the act of keeping in your possession [syn: {keeping}, {holding}] 2: the power of retaining and recalling past experience; "he had a good memory when he was younger" [syn: {memory}, {retentiveness}] 3: the power of retaining liquid: "moisture retentivity of soil" [syn: {retentiveness}, {retentivity}]
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