'Detention' definitions:
Definition of 'detention'
(from WordNet)
noun
A state of being confined (usually for a short time); "his detention was politically motivated"; "the prisoner is on hold"; "he is in the custody of police" [syn: detention, detainment, hold, custody]
noun
A punishment in which a student must stay at school after others have gone home; "the detention of tardy pupils"
Definition of 'Detention'
From: GCIDE
- Detention \De*ten"tion\, n. [L. detentio: cf. F. d['e]tention. See Detain.]
- 1. The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding. [1913 Webster]
- 2. The state of being detained (stopped or hindered); delay from necessity. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Confinement; restraint; custody. [1913 Webster]
- The archduke Philip . . . found himself in a sort of honorable detention at Henry's court. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'detention'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- afterthought,
- apprehension,
- arrest,
- arrestation,
- arrestment,
- bind,
- block,
- blockage,
- blocking,
- bureaucratic delay,
- captivity,
- check,
- clogging,
- close arrest,
- closing up,
- closure,
- confinement,
- constriction,
- cramp,
- custody,
- deceleration,
- delay,
- delayage,
- delayed reaction,
- detainment,
- double take,
- drag,
- dragging,
- durance,
- durance vile,
- duress,
- ease-off,
- ease-up,
- fixation,
- flagging,
- foot-dragging,
- halt,
- hampering,
- hang-up,
- hindering,
- hindrance,
- holdback,
- holdup,
- house arrest,
- immuration,
- immurement,
- impediment,
- imprisonment,
- incarceration,
- inhibition,
- interference,
- interim,
- internment,
- interruption,
- jailing,
- jam,
- lag,
- lagging,
- let,
- letdown,
- letup,
- logjam,
- minus acceleration,
- moratorium,
- nab,
- negativism,
- nuisance value,
- obstruction,
- obstructionism,
- occlusion,
- opposition,
- paperasserie,
- pause,
- pickup,
- pinch,
- red tape,
- red-tapeism,
- red-tapery,
- repression,
- reprieve,
- resistance,
- respite,
- restraint,
- restriction,
- retardance,
- retardation,
- retardment,
- setback,
- slack-up,
- slackening,
- slow-up,
- slowdown,
- slowing,
- slowing down,
- slowness,
- slowup,
- squeeze,
- stay,
- stay of execution,
- stop,
- stoppage,
- stranglehold,
- stricture,
- suppression,
- suspension,
- term of imprisonment,
- tie-up,
- time lag,
- wait