noun
    
    also Brit gaol  , pl jails
    
    a place where people are kept when they have been arrested and are being punished for a crime [count]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    synonyms jail, prison, and penitentiary all refer to places where criminals are kept. In U.S. English, jail usually refers to a small local place for holding criminals.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    verb
    
    also Brit gaol  jails; jailed; jailing
    
    [+ obj] :to put (a person) in jail - usually used as (be) jailed