/di ten"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of detaining.
2. the state of being detained.
3. maintenance of a person in custody or confinement, esp. while awaiting a court decision.
4. the withholding of what belongs to or is claimed by another.
adj.
5. of or pertaining to detention or used to detain: the detention room of a police station.
[ 1400-50; late ME detention- (s. of detentio ), equiv. to detent ( us ) detained (ptp. of detinere; see DETAIN) + -ion- -ION ]