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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
keep    Audio Help   [keep] Pronunciation Key verb, kept, keep·ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1.to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.
2.to hold or have the use of for a period of time: You can keep it for the summer.
3.to hold in a given place; store: You can keep your things in here.
4.to maintain (some action), esp. in accordance with specific requirements, a promise, etc.: to keep watch; to keep step.
5.to cause to continue in a given position, state, course, or action: to keep a light burning; to keep a child happy.
6.to maintain in condition or order, as by care and labor: He keeps his car in good condition.
7.to maintain in usable or edible condition; preserve: If you want to keep meat for a long time, freeze it.
8.to hold in custody or under guard, as a prisoner: They kept him in jail.
9.to cause to stay in a particular place; prevent or restrain from departure: The work kept her at the office.
10.to have regularly in stock and for sale: to keep a large supply of machine parts.
11.to maintain in one's service or for one's use or enjoyment: to keep a car and chauffeur.
12.to associate with: She keeps bad company.
13.to have the care, charge, or custody of: She keeps my dog when I travel.
14.to refrain from disclosing; withhold from the knowledge of others: to keep a secret.
15.to withhold from use; reserve; save: I'll keep this toy until you learn to behave. Keep the good wine for company.
16.to hold back or restrain: They kept the child from talking. Nothing can keep him from doing it.
17.to maintain control of; regulate: to keep the peace; to keep your temper.
18.to maintain by writing: to keep a diary.
19.to record (business transactions, daily occurrences, etc.) regularly: to keep records; to keep a list of visitors.
20.to observe; pay obedient regard to (a law, rule, promise, etc.).
21.to conform to; follow; fulfill: to keep one's word.
22.to observe (a season, festival, etc.) with formalities or rites: to keep Christmas.
23.to maintain or carry on, as an establishment, business, etc.; manage.
24.to guard; protect: He kept her from harm.
25.to maintain or support: It costs more each year to keep a house.
26.to support or contribute to the support of in return for sexual or other favors.
27.to take care of; tend: to keep a vegetable garden.
28.to raise (livestock): These farmers keep goats and cattle.
29.to remain in (a place, spot, etc.): Please keep your seats.
30.to maintain one's position in or on: He kept the job.
31.to continue to follow (a path, track, course, etc.).
32.to maintain in active existence, as an assembly, court, or fair.
–verb (used without object)
33.to continue in an action, course, position, state, etc.: to keep in sight; to keep going.
34.to remain, or continue to be, as specified: to keep cool.
35.to remain or stay in a particular place: to keep indoors.
36.to continue unimpaired or without spoiling: The food will keep on ice.
37.to admit of being reserved for a future occasion: I have more to tell you, but it will keep.
38.to keep oneself or itself as specified (fol. by away, back, off, out, etc.): Keep off the grass.
39.to restrain oneself; refrain (usually fol. by from): Try to keep from smiling.
–noun
40.board and lodging; subsistence; support: to work for one's keep.
41.the innermost and strongest structure or central tower of a medieval castle.
42.keeps, (used with a singular verb) a game of marbles in which the players keep the marbles they have won.
—Verb phrases
43.keep at, to persist in; be steadfast: You'll never master your French unless you keep at it.
44.keep back,
a.to hold in check; restrain: The dikes kept back the floodwaters.
b.to stay away from: The crowds would not keep back from the barrier.
c.to refuse to reveal: The prisoner was keeping back vital information.
45.keep down,
a.to hold under control or at a reduced or acceptable level: to keep your voice down.
b.to prevent from going up or increasing: to keep prices down.
46.keep in with, to stay in someone's favor; be on good terms with: They are social climbers who make certain to keep in with all the right people.
47.keep on, to continue; persist: If you keep on singing they'll ask you to leave.
48.keep to,
a.to adhere to; conform to: She keeps to the rules.
b.to confine oneself to: to keep to one's bed.
49.keep up,
a.to maintain an equal rate of speed, activity, or progress with another or others.
b.to persevere; continue.
c.to maintain the good condition of; keep in repair.
d.Also, keep up on or with. to stay informed: to keep up on current events.
e.to match one's friends, neighbors, business associates, etc., in success, affluence, etc.
—Idioms
50.for keeps, Informal.
a.under the stipulation that one keeps one's winnings.
b.with serious intent or purpose.
c.finally; permanently: They decided to settle the argument for keeps.
51.keep books, to maintain financial records.
52.keep tab or tabs on. tab1 (def. 14).
53.keep time. time (def. 50).
54.keep to oneself,
a.to remain aloof from the society of others.
b.to hold (something) as secret or confidential: I'll tell you only if you promise to keep it to yourself.
55.keep track of. track (def. 38).
[Origin: bef. 1000; ME kepen, OE cépan to observe, heed, watch, await, take; perh. akin to OE gecōp proper, fitting, capian to look, ON kōpa to stare]

—Related forms
keep·a·ble, adjective
keep·a·bil·i·ty, noun

—Synonyms 1. Keep, reserve, retain, withhold refer to having and holding in possession. Keep (a common word) and retain (a more formal one) agree in meaning to continue to have or hold, as opposed to losing, parting with, or giving up: to keep a book for a week. To reserve is to keep for some future use, occasion, or recipient, or to hold back for a time: to reserve judgment. To withhold is generally to hold back altogether: to withhold help. 6. preserve. 8. detain, confine. 41. donjon, dungeon, stronghold.
—Antonyms 8. release.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Time Keeping
Quickly Find Time and Attendance Systems Providers for Your Business
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Time Management Software
Award-winning Timesheet & Time Tracking Software - Try Free
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Time & Attendance Experts
Experts in solution design, vendor selection and system deployment.
www.axsiumgroup.com
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
keep time

To learn more about keep time visit Britannica.com

© 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Time & Attendance Systems
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
time    Audio Help   [tahym] Pronunciation Key noun, adjective, verb, timed, tim·ing.
–noun
1.the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another.
2.duration regarded as belonging to the present life as distinct from the life to come or from eternity; finite duration.
3.(sometimes initial capital letter) a system or method of measuring or reckoning the passage of time: mean time; apparent time; Greenwich Time.
4.a limited period or interval, as between two successive events: a long time.
5.a particular period considered as distinct from other periods: Youth is the best time of life.
6.Often, times.
a.a period in the history of the world, or contemporary with the life or activities of a notable person: prehistoric times; in Lincoln's time.
b.the period or era now or previously present: a sign of the times; How times have changed!
c.a period considered with reference to its events or prevailing conditions, tendencies, ideas, etc.: hard times; a time of war.
7.a prescribed or allotted period, as of one's life, for payment of a debt, etc.
8.the end of a prescribed or allotted period, as of one's life or a pregnancy: His time had come, but there was no one left to mourn over him. When her time came, her husband accompanied her to the delivery room.
9.a period with reference to personal experience of a specified kind: to have a good time; a hot time in the old town tonight.
10.a period of work of an employee, or the pay for it; working hours or days or an hourly or daily pay rate.
11.Informal. a term of enforced duty or imprisonment: to serve time in the army; do time in prison.
12.the period necessary for or occupied by something: The time of the baseball game was two hours and two minutes. The bus takes too much time, so I'll take a plane.
13.leisure time; sufficient or spare time: to have time for a vacation; I have no time to stop now.
14.a particular or definite point in time, as indicated by a clock: What time is it?
15.a particular part of a year, day, etc.; season or period: It's time for lunch.
16.an appointed, fit, due, or proper instant or period: a time for sowing; the time when the sun crosses the meridian; There is a time for everything.
17.the particular point in time when an event is scheduled to take place: train time; curtain time.
18.an indefinite, frequently prolonged period or duration in the future: Time will tell if what we have done here today was right.
19.the right occasion or opportunity: to watch one's time.
20.each occasion of a recurring action or event: to do a thing five times; It's the pitcher's time at bat.
21.times, used as a multiplicative word in phrasal combinations expressing how many instances of a quantity or factor are taken together: Two goes into six three times; five times faster.
22.Drama. one of the three unities. Compare unity (def. 8).
23.Prosody. a unit or a group of units in the measurement of meter.
24.Music.
a.tempo; relative rapidity of movement.
b.the metrical duration of a note or rest.
c.proper or characteristic tempo.
d.the general movement of a particular kind of musical composition with reference to its rhythm, metrical structure, and tempo.
e.the movement of a dance or the like to music so arranged: waltz time.
25.Military. rate of marching, calculated on the number of paces taken per minute: double time; quick time.
26.Manège. each completed action or movement of the horse.
–adjective
27.of, pertaining to, or showing the passage of time.
28.(of an explosive device) containing a clock so that it will detonate at the desired moment: a time bomb.
29.Commerce. payable at a stated period of time after presentment: time drafts or notes.
30.of or pertaining to purchases on the installment plan, or with payment postponed.
–verb (used with object)
31.to measure or record the speed, duration, or rate of: to time a race.
32.to fix the duration of: The proctor timed the test at 15 minutes.
33.to fix the interval between (actions, events, etc.): They timed their strokes at six per minute.
34.to regulate (a train, clock, etc.) as to time.
35.to appoint or choose the moment or occasion for; schedule: He timed the attack perfectly.
–verb (used without object)
36.to keep time; sound or move in unison.
—Idioms
37.against time, in an effort to finish something within a limited period: We worked against time to get out the newspaper.
38.ahead of time, before the time due; early: The building was completed ahead of time.
39.at one time,
a.once; in a former time: At one time they owned a restaurant.
b.at the same time; at once: They all tried to talk at one time.
40.at the same time, nevertheless; yet: I'd like to try it, but at the same time I'm a little afraid.
41.at times, at intervals; occasionally: At times the city becomes intolerable.
42.beat someone's time, Slang. to compete for or win a person being dated or courted by another; prevail over a rival: He accused me, his own brother, of trying to beat his time.
43.behind the times, old-fashioned; dated: These attitudes are behind the times.
44.for the time being, temporarily; for the present: Let's forget about it for the time being.
45.from time to time, on occasion; occasionally; at intervals: She comes to see us from time to time.
46.gain time, to postpone in order to make preparations or gain an advantage; delay the outcome of: He hoped to gain time by putting off signing the papers for a few days more.
47.in good time,
a.at the right time; on time; punctually.
b.in advance of the right time; early: We arrived at the appointed spot in good time.
48.in no time, in a very brief time; almost at once: Working together, they cleaned the entire house in no time.
49.in time,
a.early enough: to come in time for dinner.
b.in the future; eventually: In time he'll see what is right.
c.in the correct rhythm or tempo: There would always be at least one child who couldn't play in time with the music.
50.keep time,
a.to record time, as a watch or clock does.
b.to mark or observe the tempo.
c.to perform rhythmic movements in unison.
51.kill time, to occupy oneself with some activity to make time pass quickly: While I was waiting, I killed time counting the cars on the freight trains.
52.make time,
a.to move quickly, esp. in an attempt to recover lost time.
b.to travel at a particular speed.
53.make time with, Slang. to pursue or take as a sexual partner.
54.many a time, again and again; frequently: Many a time they didn't have enough to eat and went to bed hungry.
55.mark time,
a.to suspend progress temporarily, as to await developments; fail to advance.
b.Military. to move the feet alternately as in marching, but without advancing.
56.on one's own time, during one's free time; without payment: He worked out more efficient production methods on his own time.
57.on time,
a.at the specified time; punctually.
b.to be paid for within a designated period of time, as in installments: Many people are never out of debt because they buy everything on time.
58.out of time, not in the proper rhythm: His singing was out of time with the music.
59.pass the time of day, to converse briefly with or greet someone: The women would stop in the market to pass the time of day.
60.take one's time, to be slow or leisurely; dawdle: Speed was important here, but he just took his time.
61.time after time, again and again; repeatedly; often: I've told him time after time not to slam the door.
62.time and time again, repeatedly; often: Time and time again I warned her to stop smoking. Also, time and again.
63.time of life, (one's) age: At your time of life you must be careful not to overdo things.
64.time of one's life, Informal. an extremely enjoyable experience: They had the time of their lives on their trip to Europe.
[Origin: bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE tīma; c. ON tīmi; (v.) ME timen to arrange a time, deriv. of the n.; akin to tide1]

—Synonyms 4. term, spell, span. 6. epoch, era.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
keep    Audio Help   (kēp)  Pronunciation Key 
v.   kept, keep·ing, keeps

v.   tr.
  1. To retain possession of: kept the change; must keep your composure.
  2. To have as a supply: keep an ax in the shed.
    1. To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support: "There's little to earn and many to keep" (Charles Kingsley).
    2. To support (a mistress or lover) financially.
    3. To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
    4. To raise: keep chickens.
    5. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
    6. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
    7. To detain: was kept after school.
    8. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
    9. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
    10. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
    11. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
  4. To put customarily; store: Where do you keep your saw?
    1. To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
    2. To raise: keep chickens.
    3. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
    4. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
    5. To detain: was kept after school.
    6. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
    7. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
    8. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
    9. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
  6. To maintain for use or service: an urbanite who didn't keep a car.
  7. To manage, tend, or have charge of: Keep the shop while I'm away.
  8. To preserve (food).
  9. To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action: tried to keep the patient calm.
    1. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
    2. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
    3. To detain: was kept after school.
    4. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
    5. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
    6. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
    7. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
    1. To detain: was kept after school.
    2. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
    3. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
    4. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
    5. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
  12. To adhere or conform to; follow: keep late hours.
  13. To be faithful to; fulfill: keep one's word.
  14. To celebrate; observe.

v.   intr.
  1. To remain in a state or condition; stay: keep in line; keep quiet; kept well.
  2. To continue to do: keep on talking; keep guessing.
  3. To remain fresh or unspoiled: The dessert won't keep.
  4. To restrain oneself; hold oneself back: I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.

n.  
  1. Care; charge: The child is in my keep for the day.
  2. The means by which one is supported: earn one's keep.
    1. The stronghold of a castle.
    2. A jail.
    3. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
    4. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
  4. To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
  5. To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
  6. To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.
  7. To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
    1. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
    2. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
  9. To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
  10. To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
  11. To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
  12. To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.

Phrasal Verb(s):
keep at
To persevere in work or an action.
keep down
  1. To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
  2. To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
  3. To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.
keep off
To stay away from.
keep to
To adhere to: keep to the original purpose.
keep up
  1. To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
    1. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
    2. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
  3. To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
  4. To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
  5. To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
  6. To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.

Idiom(s):
for keeps
  1. For an indefinitely long period: gave the ring to me for keeps.
  2. Seriously and permanently: We're separating for keeps.

Idiom(s):
keep an eye on
  1. To watch over attentively; mind.
  2. To watch closely or carefully: keep your eye on the ball.

Idiom(s):
keep an eye out
To be watchful.

Idiom(s):
keep a stiff upper lip
To be courageous or stoic in the face of adversity.

Idiom(s):
keep company
  1. To carry on a courtship: a couple who kept company but never married.
  2. To socialize or associate: keeps company with some tough thugs.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) chin up
To be stalwart, courageous, or optimistic in the face of difficulty.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) eyes open/peeled
To be on the lookout.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) nose clean Informal
To stay out of trouble.

Idiom(s):
keep pace
To stay even with others, as in a contest.

Idiom(s):
keep (someone) company
To accompany or remain with.

Idiom(s):
keep the wolf from the door
To avoid the privation and suffering resulting from a lack of money: Both spouses had to work in order to keep the wolf from the door.

Idiom(s):
keep time
  1. To indicate the correct time.
  2. Music To maintain the tempo or rhythm.

Idiom(s):
keep to (oneself)
  1. To shun the company of others: She kept to herself all morning.
  2. To refrain from divulging: He kept the news to himself.

[Middle English kepen, from Old English cēpan, to observe, seize.]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to have and maintain in one's possession or control. Keep is the most general: We received a few offers but decided to keep the house.
Retain means to continue to hold, especially in the face of possible loss: Though unhappy, he retained his sense of humor.
Withhold implies reluctance or refusal to give, grant, or allow: The tenant withheld his rent until the owner fixed the boiler.
To reserve is to hold back for the future or for a special purpose: The farmer reserved two acres for an orchard. See Also Synonyms at observe.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
keep time
(of a clock etc) to show the time accurately
Example: Does this watch keep (good) time?
Arabic: تُحافِظ السّاعَه على الوقت الصَّحيح
Chinese (Simplified): （钟表）准确
Chinese (Traditional): （鐘表）准确
Czech: jít správně, být přesný
Danish: gå rigtigt
Dutch: goed lopen
Estonian: õiget aega näitama
Finnish: pysyä ajassa
French: donner l'heure exacte
German: richtig gehen
Greek: δείχνω την ώρα με ακρίβεια
Hungarian: pontos
Icelandic: ganga rétt
Indonesian: selalu tepat
Italian: andare a tempo*, tenere il tempo*
Japanese: 合っている
Latvian: rādīt laiku
Lithuanian: gerai eiti
Norwegian: gå riktig, være rett
Polish: dobrze chodzić
Portuguese (Brazil): marcar a hora certa
Portuguese (Portugal): estar certo
Romanian: a arăta ora exactă
Russian: показывать точное время
Slovak: udávať presný čas
Slovenian: biti točen
Spanish: dar bien la hora
Turkish: iyi, *doğru gitmek
See also: keeper, keeping, keepsake, keep-fit, for keeps, in keeping with, keep, keep (something) to oneself, keep away, keep back, keep down, keep from, keep going, keep hold of, keep house (for), keep in, keep in mind, keep it up, keep off, keep on, keep one's distance, keep one's end up, keep oneself to oneself, keep out, keep out of, keep to, keep up, keep up with the Joneses, keep watch, "keep time" in any language

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
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