rɪˈtə:n v. & n. --v. 1 intr.
come or go
back. 2 tr.
bring or put or
send back to
the person or
place etc.
where originally belonging or obtained (returned the fish to the
river;
have you returned my scissors?). 3 tr. pay back or
reciprocate;
give in
response (decided
not to return the compliment). 4 tr.
yield (a profit). 5 tr.
say in
reply; retort. 6 tr. (in cricket or
tennis etc.)
hit or send (the ball) back
after receiving
it. 7 tr.
state or
mention or
describe officially,
esp. in
answer to a writ or
formal demand. 8 tr. (of an electorate)
elect as an
MP,
government, etc. 9 tr. Cards a lead (a suit) previously
led or
bid by a
partner. b lead (a
suit or card) after
taking a
trick. 10 tr. Archit.
continue (a
wall etc.) in a changed
direction, esp. at
right angles. --n. 1 the
act or an
instance of
coming or
going back. 2 a the act or an instance of giving or sending or putting or paying back. b a
thing given or
sent back. 3 (in full return ticket) esp.
Brit. a
ticket for a
journey to a place
and back to the starting-point. 4 (in
sing. or pl.) a the
proceeds or
profit of an
undertaking. b the
acquisition of
these. 5 a formal
report or
statement compiled or submitted by
order (an income-tax return). 6 (in full return match or game) a second match etc.
between the
same opponents. 7 Electr. a
conductor bringing a
current back to
its source. 8 Brit. a sheriff's report on a writ. 9 esp. Brit. a a person's
election as an MP etc. b a returning officer's announcement of
this. 10 Archit. a
part receding
from the line of the
front, e.g. the
side of a
house or of a window-opening. øby return (of post) by the
next available post in the return direction. in return as an
exchange or
reciprocal action.
many happy returns (of the day) a
greeting on a
birthday. return crease Cricket
each of
two lines joining the
popping-crease and bowling-crease at right angles to the bowling-crease and extending
beyond it. returning
officer Brit. an
official conducting an election in a
constituency and announcing the results. return thanks express thanks esp. in a
grace at meals or in response to a
toast or
condolence. øøreturnable adj. returner n. returnless adj. [ME f. OF returner (as
RE-, TURN)]