retainer
English
Etymology
retain + -er
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈteɪn.ə/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
- (General American) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈteɪn.ɚ/, /ɹəˈteɪn.ɚ/
- Rhymes: -eɪnə(ɹ)
Noun
retainer (plural retainers)
- Any thing or person that retains.
- A dependent or follower of someone of rank.
- A paid servant, especially one who has been employed for many years.
- A fee one pays to reserve the other's time for services.
- This lawyer charges a retainer for his work.
- (dentistry) A device that holds teeth in position after orthodontic treatment.
- 1981, “Too Drunk to Fuck”, performed by Dead Kennedys:
- You give me head / It makes it worse / Take out your fuckin' retainer / Put it in your purse
-
- (rail transport, mechanical engineering) A retaining valve.
Derived terms
- general retainer
- special retainer
Related terms
English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ten- (1 c, 60 e)
Translations
any thing or person that retains
|
dependent or follower
|
paid servant
|
fee
|
dentistry: device
|
See also
- brace
Anagrams
- Arretine, Eretrian, Eritrean, Renteria, rain tree, rain-tree, raintree