keep tabs on definition, keep tabs on meaning | English dictionary

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keep

vb , keeps, keeping, kept

1 tr to have or retain possession of

2 tr to have temporary possession or charge of
keep my watch for me during the game

3 tr to store in a customary place
I keep my books in the desk

4 to remain or cause to remain in a specified state or condition
keep the dog quiet, keep ready

5 to continue or cause to continue
keep the beat, keep in step

6 tr to have or take charge or care of
keep the shop for me till I return

7 tr to look after or maintain for use, pleasure, etc.
to keep chickens, keep two cars

8 tr to provide for the upkeep or livelihood of

9 tr to support financially, esp. in return for sexual favours
he keeps a mistress in the country

10 to confine or detain or be confined or detained

11 to withhold or reserve or admit of withholding or reserving
your news will keep till later

12 tr to refrain from divulging or violating
to keep a secret, keep one's word

13 to preserve or admit of preservation

14 tr; sometimes foll by: up to observe with due rites or ceremonies
to keep Christmas

15 tr to maintain by writing regular records in
to keep a diary

16 when intr, foll by: in, on, to, etc. to stay in, on, or at (a place or position)
please keep your seats, keep to the path

17 tr to associate with (esp. in the phrase keep bad company)

18 tr to maintain in existence
to keep court in the palace

19 tr (Chiefly Brit) to have habitually in stock
this shop keeps all kinds of wool

20 ♦ how are you keeping? how are you?

21 ♦ keep tabs on
Informal to keep a watchful eye on

22 ♦ keep track of See → track → 14

23 ♦ keep time See → time → 42

24 ♦ keep wicket to play as wicketkeeper in the game of cricket

25   ♦ you can keep it
Informal   I have no interest in what you are offering
      n

26 living or support
he must work for his keep

27 Archaic charge or care

28 (Also called) dungeon, donjon the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress

29 Informal

a completely; permanently

b for the winner or possessor to keep permanently, (See also) → keep at → keep away → keep back → keep down → keep from → keep in → keep off → keep on → keep out → keep to → keep under → keep up
(Old English cepan to observe; compare Old Saxon kapon to look, Old Norse kopa to stare)

English Collins Dictionary - English Definition & Thesaurus

tab [¹]
n

1 a small flap of material, esp. one on a garment for decoration or for fastening to a button

2 any similar flap, such as a piece of paper attached to a file for identification

3 a small auxiliary aerofoil on the trailing edge of a rudder, aileron, or elevator, etc., to assist in the control of the aircraft in flight
See also → trim tab

4 (Brit, military) the insignia on the collar of a staff officer

5 (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian) a bill, esp. one for a meal or drinks

6 (Scot. and northern English)
dialect a cigarette

7   ♦ keep tabs on
Informal   to keep a watchful eye on
      vb   , tabs, tabbing, tabbed

8 tr to supply (files, clothing, etc.) with a tab or tabs
(C17: of unknown origin)

English Collins Dictionary - English Definition & Thesaurus

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"Collins English Dictionary 5th Edition first published in 2000 © HarperCollins Publishers 1979, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000 and Collins A-Z Thesaurus 1st edition first published in 1995 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995"