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Retrieve Definition

Contents

English

Etymology

Recorded in Middle English c.1410 as retreve (altered to retrive in the 16th century; modern form is from c.1650), from Middle French retruev-, stem of Old French (=modern) retrouver "to find again", itself from re- "again" + trouver "to find" (probably from Vulgar Latin *tropare (“to compose”))

Verb

to retrieve (third-person singular simple present retrieves, present participle retrieving, simple past and past participle retrieved)

  1. (transitive) To regain or get back something.
  2. (transitive) To rescue (a) creature(s)
  3. (transitive) To salvage something
  4. (transitive) To remedy or rectify something.
  5. (transitive) To remember or recall something.
  6. (transitive) To fetch or carry back something.
  7. (transitive) To fetch and bring in game.
    The cook cares not what's shot, only what's actually retrieved
  8. (intransitive) To fetch and bring in game systematically.
    Hound breeds called 'retrievers' were selected for retrieving
  9. (intransitive) To fetch or carry back systematically, notably as a game.
    Most dogs love retrieving, never mind the (improvised) toy
  10. (sports) (transitive) To make a difficult but successful return of the ball.

Derived terms

Related terms

Noun

retrieve (plural retrieves)

  1. A retrieval
  2. (sports) The return of a difficult ball

Translations

retrieval — see retrieval return of a difficult ball

 

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