Definition of Prison

Noun: prison pri-zun

A correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
- jail, jailhouse, gaol [Brit], clink, slammer, poky, pokey, calaboose [Austral]
A correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
- prison house
A prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement
- prison house

Verb: prison pri-zun
Usage: archaic (=imprison)

Confine as if in a prison
"His daughters are virtually prisoned in their own house; he does not let them go out without a chaperone";
- imprison
(law) lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
"The suspects were prisoned without trial";
- imprison, incarcerate, lag, immure, put behind bars, jail, jug [N. Amer], gaol [Brit], put away, remand