a prison, esp. one for the detention of persons awaiting trial or convicted of minor offenses.

to take into or hold in lawful custody; imprison.

verb

free , liberate

noun

bastille , black hole * , brig , bullpen , can * , cell , clink * , cooler * , detention camp , dungeon , house of correction , inside * , jailhouse , joint * , lockup , pen , penal institution , penitentiary , pound , prison , rack * , reformatory , slammer * , solitary * , stir * , stockade , up the rivernotes:a jail is a short-term detention facility for those awaiting trial or convicted of minor offenses; a prison or penitentiary is a long-term detention facility for those convicted of major offenses , keep

verb

bastille , book , cage , can * , confine , constrain , detain , hold , immure , impound , imprison , lock up , prison , put away * , put behind bars , put on ice , railroad * , send up * , sentence , take away * , throw away the keys , throw in dungeon , throw the book atnotes:a jail is a short-term detention facility for those awaiting trial or convicted of minor offenses; a prison or penitentiary is a long-term detention facility for those convicted of major offenses , incarcerate , intern , lock , arrest , brig , calaboose , can , cell , clink , cooler , dungeon , hoosegow , joint , jug , keep , lockup , pen , penitentiary , pokey , reformatory , slammer , stockade