detain

Verb

detain (third-person singular simple present detains, present participle detaining, simple past and past participle detained)

1. (transitive) To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.

   Synonyms:

   delay, hinder, impede, retard

2. (transitive) To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.

   Synonyms:

   hold back

3. (archaic, transitive) To keep back or from; to withhold.
   • Detain not the wages of the hireling: […]1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “Of Christian Justice”, in The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC, section III (Of Negotiation, or Civil Contracts), page...
   • Upon which account ’tis that the Juice of ripe pulpy Apples, as Pippins, Rennetings, &c. that are of a ſyrupy tenacious nature, do detain in them more of the diſperſed particles of the Fruit that by the Preſſure comes out with the Liquor; […]1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, “Some Observations Relating to Cyder”, in The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock...
4. (transitive) To put someone under custody.
   • In April of 2009, however, the disease was found to suddenly no longer be appearing in newly-hatched chickens, and, upon review, it was discovered that Dr. Wildcat had modified 6002 without authorization, removing the disease from the genome. She's detained and questioned by Muller, and, even...2021 August 16, “Exploring the SCP Foundation: SCP-6002 - All Creatures Great and Small” (19:06 from the start), in The Exploring Series, archived from the original on 10 Jan 2023
5. (transitive) To seize goods for official purposes.