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re·tal·i·a·tion noun : an act of retaliating

Synonyms

reprisal, requital, retribution, revenge, vengeance—more at REVENGE

re·tard verb : to hold back : delay the progress of

— re·tar·da·tion noun

— re·tard·er noun

Synonyms

brake, decelerate, slow—more at SLOW

re·tar·dant adjective : serving or tending to retard

— retardant noun

re·tard·ed adjective, sometimes offensive

: slow or limited in intellectual, emotional, or academic progress

retch verb 1 : to try to vomit

2 : to throw up : VOMIT

re·ten·tion noun 1 : the act of retaining : the state of being retained

2 : the power of retaining esp. in the mind : RETENTIVENESS

re·ten·tive adjective : having the power of retaining; especially : retaining knowledge easily

— re·ten·tive·ness noun

re·think verb -thought ; -think·ing : to think about again : RECONSIDER

Synonyms

readdress, reanalyze, reconceive, reconsider, reexamine, review—more at RECONSIDER

ret·i·cent adjective 1 : tending not to talk or give out information

2 : RELUCTANT

3 : restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance

— ret·i·cence noun

— ret·i·cent·ly adverb

Synonyms

closemouthed, laconic, reserved, silent, taciturn, uncommunicative—more at SILENT

ret·i·na noun, plural retinas or ret·i·nae : the sensory membrane lining the eye that receives the image formed by the lens

— ret·i·nal adjective

ret·i·nue noun : the body of attendants or followers of a distinguished person

Synonyms

cortege, following, suite, train—more at CORTEGE

re·tire verb re·tired; re·tir·ing 1 : to withdraw from action or danger : RETREAT

2 : to withdraw esp. for privacy

3 : to withdraw from one's occupation or position : conclude one's career

4 : to go to bed

5 : to cause to be out in baseball

6 : to cause to retire

7 : to withdraw from use or service

Synonyms

[1] back, fall back, recede, retreat, withdraw—more at RETREAT

usually retire from [3] leave, quit, resign, step down—more at QUIT

[6] cashier, dismiss, fire, remove, sack—more at DISMISS

re·tired adjective 1 : screened or hidden from view : SECLUDED, QUIET

2 : withdrawn from active duty or from one's career

re·tir·ee noun : a person who has retired from a career

re·tire·ment noun : an act of retiring : the state of being retired

re·tir·ing adjective : sensitively diffident : SHY

Synonyms

bashful, coy, demure, diffident, introverted, modest, reserved, shy—more at SHY

re·tool verb 1 : to reequip with tools

2 : to modify with usu. minor improvements <~ed the team for next year>

1retort verb [ORIGIN: L retortus, pp. of retorquēre, lit., to twist back, hurl back, fr. re- back + torquēre to twist]

1 : to say in reply : answer back usu. sharply

2 : to answer (an argument) by a counter argument

3 : RETALIATE

Synonyms

answer, rejoin, reply, respond, return—more at ANSWER

2retort noun : a quick, witty, or cutting reply; especially : one that turns back or counters the first speaker's words

Synonyms

comeback, repartee, riposte; also back talk; crack, quip, sally, wisecrack, witticism; cut, insult, put-down

answer, comeback, reply, response, return—more at ANSWER

3retort noun [ORIGIN: MF retorte, fr. ML retorta, fr. L, fem. of retortus, pp. of retorquēre to twist back; fr. its shape]

: a vessel in which substances are distilled or broken up by heat

re·touch verb : TOUCH UP; especially : to change (as a photographic negative) in order to produce a more desirable appearance

re·trace verb : to go over again or in a reverse direction

re·tract verb 1 : to draw back or in

2 : to withdraw (as a charge or promise)

— re·tract·able adjective

— re·trac·tion noun

Synonyms

abjure, recant, renounce, take back, unsay, withdraw—more at ABJURE

re·trac·tile adjective : capable of being drawn back or in <~ claws>

1retread verb re·tread·ed; re·tread·ing : to put a new tread on (a worn tire)

2retread noun 1 : a retreaded tire

2 : one pressed into service again; also : REMAKE