Prison
/ˈpɹɪzn̩/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A place or institution where people are held against their will, in the US especially for long-term confinement, as of those convicted of serious crimes or otherwise considered undesirable by the government. countable, uncountable
"The cold stone walls of the prison had stood for over a century."
- 2 a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment wordnet
- 3 Confinement in prison. uncountable
"Prison was a harrowing experience for him."
- 4 a prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement wordnet
- 5 Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home. colloquial, countable, figuratively, uncountable
"The academy was a prison for many of its students because of its strict teachers."
Verb
- 1 To imprison. transitive
Example
More examples"The murderer was convicted and sentenced to life in prison."
Etymology
From Middle English prisoun, prison, from Old English prisūn, a borrowing from Old French prison, from Latin prehensiōnem, accusative singular of prehensiō, from the verb prehendō. Doublet of prehension.