Noun: retainer ri'tey-nu(r)
- A fee charged in advance to retain the services of someone
"The consultant required a retainer before beginning work on the project";
- consideration
- A person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
"The lord's loyal retainer had served the family for decades";
- servant
- A dental appliance that holds teeth (or a prosthesis) in position after orthodontic treatment
"After her braces were removed, she wore a retainer to maintain the alignment of her teeth"
Derived forms: retainers
Type of: dental appliance, fee, worker
Encyclopedia: Retainer