retainer
/rɪˈteɪnə
/noun
1A thing that holds something in place: a guitar string retainer...
- On the other side of the road, there was a log retainer wall.
- The lens is held in place with a retainer ring instead of a bezel.
- The cartridge may be held in place with a threaded ring or a retainer clip.
2 (also retaining fee) A fee paid in advance to someone, especially a barrister, in order to secure their services for use when required: he’s on a retainer as a consultant...
- The annual fee of $2,500 is a bargain when compared to the monthly retainer plus commission required for full representation.
- Brian Bennett, financial recruitment consultant with HRM Recruitment Group, said some banks paid retainers or completion bonuses to get employees to finish a project.
- And on the corporate side, it acts as broker or adviser to more than 100 smaller companies, each of which pays the broker an annual retainer plus fee income on corporate finance deals.
Synonyms
retaining fee, fee, periodic payment, partial payment, deposit, advance, subscription, standing charge
2.1British A reduced rent paid to retain accommodation during a period of non-occupancy.Your property owner may want a retainer to reserve your room for you over the summer....
- A retainer is a reduced rent and is paid by students to landlords to ensure that the accommodation is reserved for the new academic session, and that the landlord does not enter into any other contract that could affect the availability of the property.
3A servant, especially one who has worked for a person or family for a long time: faithful family retainers...
- The realization that others did not love Father as his family and retainers clearly did was a slow one coming to Johnny.
- Koizumi was born in Shizuoka as the son of a former retainer of the Tokugawa family which had ruled Japan with an iron fist until the last Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned in 1867.
- The lift-house was manned: a family retainer had taken the place of the liftman.
Synonyms
attendant, follower, servant, hireling, hanger-on, escort, minion, lackey, flunkey, vassal, dependant, domestic, valet, footman
