1. Deprive of freedom; take into confinement
   "The authorities detained the immigrants at the border";
   - confine
    
2. Stop or prevent from proceeding or leaving
   "The teacher detained several students after class";
   - stay, delay
    
3. Cause to be late or slow; prevent from proceeding on schedule
   "The traffic detained us for over an hour";
   - delay, hold up

Derived forms: detained, detains, detaining

Type of: act, check, decelerate, delay, move, retard, slow, slow down, slow up

Encyclopedia: Detain