keeper
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a person whose job is to look after a place, animals, or objects.
a person charged with the guarding, maintenance, or care of a specific entity, such as a zoo, museum, or park.
Simple“The zoo keeper arrived early to feed the lions before the visitors arrived.”
In context“As the head keeper of the estate, he was responsible for both the preservation of the historical archives and the maintenance of the grounds.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
the player who stays near the goal to stop the other team from scoring.
the player designated to guard the goal or wicket in sports such as football, hockey, or cricket.
Simple“The keeper made a great save in the last minute of the game.”
In context“The keeper's rapid reflexes were the only thing preventing a total rout during the final quarter of the championship match.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person who is so good, kind, or talented that you should stay friends or partners with them.
a person or thing regarded as having enough value or desirable qualities to be worth retaining permanently.
Simple“He remembered your birthday and brought your favourite cake; he's a keeper.”
In context“After testing several prototypes, the engineering team decided the third design was a keeper due to its superior durability and low cost.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
a small part of a lock or machine that holds another piece in place.
a component of a mechanism designed to catch, retain, or receive another part, such as the strike plate of a door lock.
Simple“The bolt slides into the keeper on the door frame to lock the door.”
In context“The locksmith noted that the keeper was slightly misaligned, preventing the deadbolt from engaging securely with the frame.”
From Middle English kepere. By surface analysis, keep + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.