to continue to have something and not give it away, throw it out, or lose it
Mia decided to keep her childhood toys in a box in the attic.
You can keep the change; I don’t need the coins.
✦ Old English “cēpan” meaning “to seize, hold, observe.”
to continue doing something or cause someone or something to stay in a particular state
Please keep quiet while the baby is sleeping.
If we keep walking, we’ll reach the lake before sunset.
to look after and care for someone or something
Grandma will keep the baby while we are at work.
They keep chickens in their backyard for fresh eggs.
the strongest and tallest central tower of a medieval castle, used as the last place of defense
The soldiers retreated to the keep when the outer walls were breached.
From the top of the keep, the king could see the entire valley.
✦ Middle English, from Old English “céap” meaning a place of refuge; sense later specialised to castle tower.
the money, food, and other basic things a person needs to live
He does odd jobs around the farm to earn his keep.
Raising horses is expensive, but the stud fees help pay for their keep.
a person who looks after bees in hives and collects honey, wax, or other products from them
The beekeeper carefully lifted the wooden frame to inspect the honeycomb.
A local beekeeper sells jars of fresh honey at the bustling Saturday farmers’ market.
✦ Formed in English from bee + keeper in the mid-17th century, meaning “one who keeps bees.”
