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retentive

Pronunciation: /rɪˈtɛntɪv/

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Definition of retentive

adjective

  • 1(of a person’s memory) effective in retaining facts and impressions: he had a highly retentive memory and was an accomplished speaker
  • 2(of a substance) able to absorb and hold moisture: soil should be rich and moisture retentive
  • chiefly Medicine serving to keep something in place.

Derivatives

retentively

adverb

retentiveness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French retentif, -ive or medieval Latin retentivus, from retent- 'held back', from the verb retinere (see retain)

retentive in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of retentive in the US English dictionary

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