return - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

return

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/rɪˈtɜːrn/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/rɪˈtɝn/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ri tûrn′)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024
re•turn /rɪˈtɜrn/USA pronunciation   v. 
  1. to go or come back, such as to a former place or state:[no object]to return from abroad.
  2. to put, bring, take, or give to the original place, position, etc.:[~ + object]He returned his gun to his holster.
  3. to turn to again, as in thought:[no object]Let us return to the main idea.
  4. to repay or react to (something sent, done, etc.) with something similar:[~ + object]to return a favor.
  5. Law to bring back (a verdict, etc.):[~ + object]The jury returned a verdict of guilty.
  6. to yield back (a profit, etc.):[~ + object]Those stocks will return a handsome profit.

n. 
  1. [uncountable] the act or fact of returning.
  2. a recurrence;
    a happening again:[countable]the return of winter.
  3. repayment or response:[uncountable]profits in return for outlay.
  4. Often, returns. [plural] a profit or gain, such as from work.
  5. Accounting[countable] an official form showing income, deductions, and taxes due.
  6. GovernmentUsually, returns. [plural] a report on a count of votes, etc.:with most of the election returns in.

adj. [before a noun]
  1. of or relating to a return or returning:a return engagement of the opera; a return address.
  2. sent or done in return:return cargo.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024
re•turn  (ri tûrn′),USA pronunciation v.i. 
  1. to go or come back, as to a former place, position, or state:to return from abroad;to return to public office;to return to work.
  2. to revert to a former owner:The money I gave him returns to me in the event of his death.
  3. to revert or recur, as in thought, discourse, etc.:He returned to his story.
  4. to make a reply or retort:She returned with a witty sally.

v.t. 
  1. to put, bring, take, give, or send back to the original place, position, etc.:to return a book to a shelf;to return a child to her mother;to return the switch to off position.
  2. to send or give back in reciprocation, recompense, or requital:to return evil for good.
  3. to reciprocate, repay, or react to (something sent, given, done, etc.) with something similar:to return the enemy's fire; to return a favor.
  4. Law
    • to give to a judge or official (a statement or a writ of actions done).
    • to render (a verdict, decision, etc.).
  5. to reflect (light, sound, etc.).
  6. to yield (a profit, revenue, etc.), as in return for labor, expenditure, or investment.
  7. to report or announce officially:to return a list of members.
  8. to elect, as to a legislative body:The voters returned him to office by a landslide.
  9. Militaryto put (a weapon) back into its holder.
  10. Games[Cards.]to respond to (a suit led) by a similar lead:She returned diamonds.
  11. to turn back or in the reverse direction, as a served ball in tennis.
  12. Architecture[Chiefly Archit.]to cause to turn or proceed in a different direction from the previous line of direction;
    reverse:to return a cornice at each end of a façade.

n. 
  1. the act or fact of returning as by going or coming back or bringing, sending, or giving back:We should appreciate your return of the book immediately.
  2. a recurrence:the return of the moon each month.
  3. reciprocation, repayment, or requital:profits in return for outlay.
  4. response or reply.
  5. a person or thing that is returned:returns of mill goods.
  6. the gain realized on an exchange of goods.
  7. Often, returns. a yield or profit, as from labor, land, business, or investment:He received a quick return on his money.
  8. AccountingAlso called tax return. a statement, on an officially prescribed form, of income, deductions, exemptions, etc., and taxes due.
  9. Usually, returns. an official or unofficial report on a count of votes, candidates elected, etc.:election returns.
  10. British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]See return ticket (def. 2).
  11. Architecture
    • the continuation of a molding, projection, etc., in a different direction.
    • a side or part that falls away from the front of any straight or flat member or area.
  12. a tablelike extension attached at a right angle to a desk at typing height, for holding a typewriter, computer, etc.
  13. Computinga key or lever on a typewriter or other business machine that returns the carriage to the extreme right, or the typing element to the extreme left, for the beginning of a new line.
  14. ComputingSee under carriage return (def. 2).
  15. Sport
    • the act of returning a ball.
    • the ball that is returned.
  16. Sport[Football.]a runback of a kick, intercepted pass, or fumble recovery.
  17. Business[Econ.]yield per unit as compared to the cost per unit involved in a specific industrial process.
  18. Law
    • the bringing or sending back of various documents, such as a writ, summons, or subpoena, with a brief written report usually endorsed upon it, by a sheriff, to the court from which it issued.
    • a certified document by a great variety of officers, as assessors, collectors, and election officers.
    • the report or certificate endorsed in such documents.
  19. Games[Cards.]a lead that responds to a partner's lead.
  20. Show Business[Theat.]a flat or drapery parallel to the tormentor for masking the offstage area and often completing the downstage part of a set.
  21. returns:
    • merchandise shipped back to a supplier from a retailer or distributor as unsold or unsalable.
    • merchandise returned to a retailer by a consumer.

adj. 
  1. of or pertaining to a return or returning:a return trip.
  2. sent, given, or done in return:a return shot.
  3. done or occurring again:a return engagement of the opera.
  4. noting a person or thing that is returned or returning to a place:return cargo.
  5. changing in direction;
    doubling or returning on itself:a return twist in a road.
  6. Buildingused for returning, recirculating, etc.:the return road; a return pipe.
  7. (of a game) played in order to provide the loser of an earlier game with the opportunity to win from the same opponent:return match.
  8. adequate, necessary, or provided to enable the return of a mailed package or letter to its sender:return postage guaranteed;return address;return envelope.
  • Anglo-French retorn, return, derivative of Old French retorner, returner; (adjective, adjectival) derivative of the noun, nominal
  • Middle French retorner, returner, Old French (see re-, turn); (noun, nominal) Middle English
  • (verb, verbal) Middle English retornen 1275–1325
    • 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged rejoin.
    • 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged replace.
    • 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged exchange.
    • 10.See corresponding entry in Unabridged pay, repay.
    • 23.See corresponding entry in Unabridged revenue, income.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
return /rɪˈtɜːn/ vb
  1. (intransitive) to come back to a former place or state
  2. (transitive) to give, take, or carry back; replace or restore
  3. (transitive) to repay or recompense, esp with something of equivalent value: return the compliment
  4. (transitive) to earn or yield (profit or interest) as an income from an investment or venture
  5. (intransitive) to come back or revert in thought or speech: I'll return to that later
  6. (intransitive) to recur or reappear: the symptoms have returned
  7. to answer or reply
  8. (transitive) to vote into office; elect
  9. (transitive) (of a jury) to deliver or render (a verdict)
  10. (transitive) to submit (a report, etc) about (someone or something) to someone in authority
  11. (transitive) to lead back (the suit led by one's partner)
  12. (transitive) to hit, throw, or play (a ball) back
  13. return thanks ⇒ (of Christians) to say grace before a meal
 n
  1. the act or an instance of coming back
  2. something that is given or sent back, esp unsatisfactory merchandise returned to the maker or supplier or a theatre ticket sent back by a purchaser for resale
  3. the act or an instance of putting, sending, or carrying back; replacement or restoration
  4. (often plural) the yield, revenue, or profit accruing from an investment, transaction, or venture
  5. the act or an instance of reciprocation or repayment (esp in the phrase in return for)
  6. a recurrence or reappearance
  7. an official report, esp of the financial condition of a company
  8. a form (a tax return) on which a statement concerning one's taxable income is made
  9. the statement itself
  10. (often plural) a statement of the votes counted at an election or poll
  11. an answer or reply
  12. Brit
    short for return ticket
  13. a part of a building that forms an angle with the façade
  14. a report by a bailiff or other officer on the outcome of a formal document such as a claim, summons, etc, issued by a court
  15. a lead of a card in the suit that one's partner has previously led
  16. the act of playing or throwing a ball back
  17. by return, by return of post ⇒ Brit by the next post back to the sender
  18. many happy returns, many happy returns of the day ⇒ a conventional greeting to someone on his or her birthday
 adj
  1. of, relating to, or characterized by a return: a return visit, a return performance
  2. denoting a second, reciprocated occasion: a return match
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French retorner; see re-, turn
'return' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Agamemnon - Antimachus - Antinous - Baxter - Burke - CAR - Church of God - Cinque Ports - Clytemnestra - Columbia - after - again - against - allowance - anabiosis - annuity - answer - antedate - antidoron - apheresis - approval - ar- - ascent - atman - avenge - back - backhaul - backrush - backstroke - backtrack - bail - bargain away - base - bicentennial - blackleg - board - bookmark - boomerang - borrow - bottle bill - bread - breeding ground - bring in - broker - brusque - burgage - but - by - call - callback
Collocations: return [home, to work], have a [safe, quick, swift] return, return [shipping, postage] is included, more...

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