What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Retain vs Record - What's the difference?

retain | record |

As a verb retain

is to keep in possession or use.

As a noun record is

record.

retain

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To keep in possession or use.
  • * Milton
    • Be obedient, and retain / Unalterably firm his love entire.
  • * 1856 : (Gustave Flaubert), (Madame Bovary), Part III Chapter XI, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling
    • A strange thing was that Bovary, while continually thinking of Emma, was forgetting her. He grew desperate as he felt this image fading from his memory in spite of all efforts to retain it. Yet every night he dreamt of her; it was always the same dream. He drew near her, but when he was about to clasp her she fell into decay in his arms.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
    • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=1 citation , passage=The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, so that the actual structure which had come down to posterity retained the secret magic of a promise rather than the overpowering splendour of a great architectural achievement.}}
  • To keep in one's pay or service.
  • * Addison
    • A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defence.
  • To employ by paying a retainer.
  • To hold secure.
  • (obsolete) To restrain; to prevent.
  • (obsolete) To belong; to pertain.
  • * Boyle
    • A somewhat languid relish, retaining to bitterness.

    Synonyms

    * keep

    Related terms

    * retainer, retention

    Anagrams

    * *

    record

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) , from recorder. See .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An item of information put into a temporary or permanent physical medium.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
    • , author=John T. Jost , title=Social Justice: Is It in Our Nature (and Our Future)? , volume=100, issue=2, page=162 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record .}}
    The person had a record of the interview so she could review her notes.
    The tourist's photographs and the tape of the police call provide a record of the crime.
  • Any instance of a physical medium on which information was put for the purpose of preserving it and making it available for future reference.
    • We have no record of you making this payment to us.
  • A vinyl disc on which sound is recorded and may be replayed on a phonograph.
    • I still like records better than CDs.
  • (computing) A set of data relating to a single individual or item.
  • The most extreme known value of some achievement, particularly in competitive events.
    • The heat and humidity were both new records .
    The team set a new record for most points scored in a game.
    Synonyms
    * log * (information put into a lasting physical medium) * (vinyl disk) disc/disk * (most extreme known value)
    Derived terms
    * activation record * for the record * of record * on record * off the record * on the record * record-breaking * public record * world record

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make a record of information.
    • I wanted to record every detail of what happened, for the benefit of future generations.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=September 7 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Moldova 0-5 England , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The display and result must be placed in the context that was it was against a side that looked every bit their Fifa world ranking of 141 - but England completed the job with efficiency to record their biggest away win in 19 years.}}
  • Specifically, to make an audio or video recording of.
    • Within a week they had recorded both the song and the video for it.
  • * '>citation
  • (legal) To give legal status to by making an official public record.
    • When the deed was recorded , we officially owned the house.
  • To fix in a medium, usually in a tangible medium.
  • To make an audio, video, or multimedia recording.
  • (transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To repeat; to practice.
  • (ambitransitive, obsolete) To sing or repeat a tune.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • * W. Browne
    • whether the birds or she recorded best
  • * Fairfax
    • They longed to see the day, to hear the lark / Record her hymns, and chant her carols blest.
  • (obsolete) To reflect; to ponder.
  • * Fuller
    • Praying all the way, and recording upon the words which he before had read.
    Derived terms
    * recordable * recorder * recording

    Antonyms

    * (make a record of information) erase * (make an audio or video recording of) erase