re|trench /r I tre ntʃ/ (retrenches , retrenching , retrenched ) VERB If a person or organization retrenches , they spend less money. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] Shortly afterwards, cuts in defence spending forced the aerospace industry to retrench.
re|trench|ment /r I tre ntʃmənt/ (retrenchments ) N‑VAR Retrenchment means spending less money. [FORMAL ] □ Defense planners predict an extended period of retrenchment.
re|tri|al /riː tra I əl/ (retrials ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A retrial is a second trial of someone for the same offence. □ Judge Ian Starforth Hill said the jury's task was 'beyond the realms of possibility' and ordered a retrial.
ret|ri|bu|tion /re tr I bjuː ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Retribution is punishment for a crime, especially punishment which is carried out by someone other than the official authorities. [FORMAL ] □ He didn't want any further involvement for fear of retribution.
re|triev|al /r I triː v ə l/
1 N‑UNCOUNT The retrieval of information from a computer is the process of getting it back. □ …electronic storage and retrieval systems.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The retrieval of something is the process of getting it back from a particular place, especially from a place where it should not be. □ [+ of ] Its real purpose is the launching and retrieval of small aeroplanes in flight.
re|trieve /r I triː v/ (retrieves , retrieving , retrieved )
1 VERB If you retrieve something, you get it back from the place where you left it. □ [V n] The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.
2 VERB If you manage to retrieve a situation, you succeed in bringing it back into a more acceptable state. □ [V n] He is the one man who could retrieve that situation.
3 VERB To retrieve information from a computer or from your memory means to get it back. □ [V n] Computers can instantly retrieve millions of information bits.
re|triev|er /r I triː və r / (retrievers ) N‑COUNT A retriever is a kind of dog. Retrievers are traditionally used to bring back birds and animals which their owners have shot.
ret|ro /re troʊ/ ADJ Retro clothes, music, and objects are based on the styles of the past. [JOURNALISM ] □ …clothes shops where original versions of today's retro looks can be found.
PREFIX retro-
is used to form adjectives and nouns which indicate that something goes back or goes backwards. For example, a retrogressive step returns a situation to a state that is worse than the current one.
retro|ac|tive /re troʊæ kt I v/ ADJ If a decision or action is retroactive , it is intended to take effect from a date in the past. [FORMAL ] □ There are few precedents for this sort of retroactive legislation. ● retro|ac|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ It isn't yet clear whether the new law can actually be applied retroactively.
retro|fit /re troʊf I t/ (retrofits , retrofitting , retrofitted ) VERB To retrofit a machine or a building means to put new parts or new equipment in it after it has been in use for some time, especially to improve its safety or make it work better. □ [V n] Much of this business involves retrofitting existing planes. ● N‑COUNT Retrofit is also a noun. □ A retrofit may involve putting in new door jambs.
retro|grade /re trəgre I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A retrograde action is one that you think makes a situation worse rather than better. [FORMAL ] □ The Prime Minister described transferring education to central government funding as 'a retrograde step'.
retro|gres|sion /re trəgre ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Retrogression means moving back to an earlier and less efficient stage of development. [FORMAL ] □ There has been a retrogression in the field of human rights since 1975.
retro|gres|sive /re trəgre s I v/ ADJ If you describe an action or idea as retrogressive , you disapprove of it because it returns to old ideas or beliefs and does not take advantage of recent progress. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the retrogressive policies of the National parties.
retro|spect /re trəspekt/ PHRASE When you consider something in retrospect , you think about it afterwards, and often have a different opinion about it from the one that you had at the time. □ In retrospect, I wish that I had thought about alternative courses of action.
retro|spec|tive /re trəspe kt I v/ (retrospectives )
1 N‑COUNT A retrospective is an exhibition or showing of work done by an artist over many years, rather than his or her most recent work. □ The actress will preside over a retrospective of her films.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Retrospective feelings or opinions concern things that happened in the past. □ Afterwards, retrospective fear of the responsibility would make her feel almost faint. ● retro|spec|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Retrospectively, it seems as if they probably were negligent.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Retrospective laws or legal actions take effect from a date before the date when they are officially approved. □ Bankers are quick to condemn retrospective tax legislation. ● retro|spec|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ It will be almost impossible to apply the new law retrospectively, meaning that thousands of old cases may go unsolved.
re|tune /riː tjuː n, [AM ] -tuː n/ (retunes , retuning , retuned ) VERB To retune a piece of equipment such as a radio, television, or video means to adjust it so that it receives a different channel, or so that it receives the same channel on a different frequency. □ [V ] Listeners in cars should not have to retune as they drive across the country. □ [V n] The majority of viewers affected will only need to retune existing equipment.
re|turn ◆◆◆ /r I tɜː r n/ (returns , returning , returned )
1 VERB When you return to a place, you go back there after you have been away. □ [V + to/from ] The Prime Minister will return to London tonight. □ [V adv] So far more than 350,000 people have returned home. [Also V ]