DETAIN

[verb] - to force (someone) officially to stay in a place, or (formal) to delay (someone) for a short length of timeA suspect is being detained by the police for further questioning. [T]He was forcibly detained under federal immigration law. [T]They were arrested and detained in custody. [T]In many countries, the police cannot detain people without trial. [T]Several of the people injured in the accident were detained overnight in hospital. [T]Their army still have the right to detain, arrest and interrogate. [I](formal) I'm sorry I'm late - I was unavoidably detained. [T](UK legal or humorous) If someone is detained at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, they are kept in prison for as long as the authorities feel is necessary.