restraint
Other forms: restraints
Restraint is the act of holding something back. For example, if you exercise restraint over your emotions, you won't burst out into tears in public.
As you may have guessed from its similar spelling, the word restraint comes from the verb restrain, which in turn comes from the Latin word restringere, meaning "draw back tightly, confine, check." When talking about an object, a restraint is a device used to maintain control of something. For example, if your leg is operated on, the doctors will use a restraint to hold it still.
Definitions of restraint
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the act of controlling by restraining someone or something“the unlawful restraint of trade”types:dampera depressing restraintimmobilisation, immobilization, immobilizingthe act of limiting movement or making incapable of movementconfinementthe act of restraining a person's liberty by confining themcontainmentthe act of containing; keeping something from spreadingcurtailment, suppressionthe act of withholding or withdrawing some book or writing from publication or circulationrestraint of tradeany act that tends to prevent free competition in businessconfinement, restrictionthe act of keeping something within specified bounds (by force if necessary)house arrestconfinement to your own homering containmenta strategy of defense in cases of bioterrorism; vaccination only of people exposed and others who are in contact with themclassificationrestriction imposed by the government on documents or weapons that are available only to certain authorized peoplecircumscriptionthe act of circumscribingconstraintthe act of constraining; the threat or use of force to control the thoughts or behavior of otherscommitment, committal, consignmentthe official act of consigning a person to confinement (as in a prison or mental hospital)type of:controlthe activity of managing or exerting control over something
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the state of being physically constrained“dogs should be kept under restraint”synonyms: constrainttypes:cagesomething that restricts freedom as a cage restricts movementiron cagea cage from which there is no escapetype of:confinementthe state of being confined
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discipline in personal and social activities“he was a model of polite restraint”synonyms: controlantonyms:unrestraintthe quality of lacking restrainttypes:inhibitionthe quality of being inhibitedcontinencevoluntary control over urinary and fecal dischargestiff upper lipself-restraint in the expression of emotion (especially fear or grief)abstemiousnessmoderation in eating and drinkingtype of:disciplinethe trait of being well behaved
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a rule or condition that limits freedom“legal restraints”“restraints imposed on imports”types:floodgatesomething that restrains a flood or outpouringtype of:
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a device that hinders something's motion“the car did not have proper restraints fitted”synonyms: constrainttypes:air baga safety restraint in an automobile; the bag inflates on collision and prevents the driver or passenger from being thrown forwardarrester, arrester hooka restraint that slows airplanes as they land on the flight deck of an aircraft carrierbanda restraint put around something to hold it togetherbrakea restraint used to slow or stop a vehiclebrakeanything that slows or hinders a processbrake padone of the pads that apply friction to both sides of the brake diskbrake shoe, shoe, skida restraint provided when the brake linings are moved hydraulically against the brake drum to retard the wheel's rotationchainanything that acts as a restraintfastener, fastening, fixing, holdfastrestraint that attaches to something or holds something in placeignition lock, locka restraint incorporated into the ignition switch to prevent the use of a vehicle by persons who do not have the keymuzzlea leather or wire restraint that fits over an animal's snout (especially a dog's nose and jaws) and prevents it from eating or bitinglife belt, safety belt, safety harnessbelt attaching you to some object as a restraint in order to prevent you from getting hurtdrogue, sea anchorrestraint consisting of a canvas covered frame that floats behind a vessel; prevents drifting or maintains the heading into a windbond, hamper, shackle, trammela restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)trammela restraint that is used to teach a horse to ambleball and chainheavy iron ball attached to a prisoner by a chainbellybanda strap around the belly of a draft animal holding the shafts of a wagonbench hookany of various stops on a workbench against which work can be pushed (as while chiseling or planing)brake banda band that can be tightened around a shaft to stop its rotationbrake system, brakesa braking device consisting of a combination of interacting parts that work to slow a motor vehiclebucklefastener that fastens together two ends of a belt or strap; often has loose prongbuttona round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholescarabiner, karabiner, snap ringan oblong metal ring with a spring clip; used in mountaineering to attach a rope to a piton or to connect two ropescatcha fastener that fastens or locks a door or windowclaspa fastener (as a buckle or hook) that is used to hold two things togethercleata fastener (usually with two projecting horns) around which a rope can be securedclinchthe flattened part of a nail or bolt or rivetclipany of various small fasteners used to hold loose articles togethercoaster brakea brake on a bicycle that engages with reverse pressure on the pedalscolleta band or collar that holds an individual stone in a jewelry settingcorrugated fastener, wiggle naila small strip of corrugated steel with sharp points on one side; hammered across wood joints in rough carpentrycottar, cotterfastener consisting of a wedge or pin inserted through a slot to hold two other pieces togethercringle, eyelet, grommet, grummet, loopfastener consisting of a metal ring for lining a small hole to permit the attachment of cords or linesdowel, dowel pin, jogglea fastener that is inserted into holes in two adjacent pieces and holds them togetheremergency, emergency brake, hand brake, parking brakea brake operated by hand; usually operates by mechanical linkagecuff, handcuff, handlock, manacleshackle that consists of a metal loop that can be locked around the wrist; usually used in pairshook and eyea kind of fastener used on clothingknotany of various fastenings formed by looping and tying a rope (or cord) upon itself or to another rope or to another objectlashingrope that is used for fastening something to something elseligaturea metal band used to attach a reed to the mouthpiece of a clarinet or saxophonelocka fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closedlockera fastener that locks or closesnaila thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastenernut and bolta fastener made by screwing a nut onto a threaded boltpaper fastenera fastener for holding a sheet of paper in placeclick, detent, dog, pawla hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backwardpina small slender (often pointed) piece of wood or metal used to support or fasten or attach thingspower brakea brake on an automobile that magnifies a small force applied to the brake pedal into a proportionately larger force applied to slow or stop the vehiclescrewa fastener with a tapered threaded shank and a slotted headsealfastener that provides a tight and perfect closureseal, sealing waxfastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and lettersseat belt, seatbelta safety belt used in a car or plane to hold you in your seat in case of an accidentslide fastener, zip, zip fastener, zippera fastener for locking together two toothed edges by means of a sliding tabtogglea fastener consisting of a peg or pin or crosspiece that is inserted into an eye at the end of a rope or a chain or a cable in order to fasten it to something (as another rope or chain or cable)toggle bolta fastener consisting of a threaded bolt and a hinged spring-loaded toggle; used to fasten objects to hollow wallswitheband or rope made of twisted twigs or stemstype of:devicean instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
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lack of ornamentation“the room was simply decorated with great restraint”synonyms: chasteness, simpleness, simplicitytype of:plainnessthe appearance of being plain and unpretentious
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Vocabulary lists containing restraint
Theodore Roosevelt on "New Nationalism" (1910)
At the dedication of the John Brown Memorial Park in Kansas, former president Theodore Roosevelt attacked the administration of his successor, President William H. Taft, and started a campaign for a third term. Here are some words from the August 31, 1910 speech that introduced the philosophy of the Progressive Party.
