What does it mean to "detain" someone?

To "detain" someone refers to the act of stopping and holding them for questioning, often by law enforcement authorities. This term indicates a temporary measure where an individual is not free to leave. Detainment typically occurs when officials believe they need to ask questions about a situation or investigate further based on reasonable suspicion or other legal standards. It is important to understand that detention is a serious matter and can have legal implications, often synonymous with a limited form of custody. The other choices, while related to law enforcement actions, do not capture the essence of detainment; for instance, releasing someone or providing a warning does not involve holding them for questioning, and searching belongings is an action that can occur during a detainment but is not the definition of the term itself.