v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. say or do over again.
2 tr. recite, rehearse, report, or reproduce (something from memory) (repeated a poem).
3 tr. imitate (an action etc.).
4 intr. recur; appear again, perhaps several times (a repeating pattern).
5 tr. used for emphasis (am not, repeat not, going).
6 intr. (of food) be tasted intermittently for some time after being swallowed as a result of belching or indigestion.
7 intr. (of a watch etc.) strike the last quarter etc. over again when required.
8 intr. (of a firearm) fire several shots without reloading.
9 intr. US illegally vote more than once in an election.
--n.
1. a the act or an instance of repeating. b a thing repeated (often attrib.: repeat prescription).
2 a repeated broadcast.
3 Mus. a a passage intended to be repeated. b a mark indicating this.
4 a pattern repeated in wallpaper etc.
5 Commerce a a consignment similar to a previous one. b an order given for this; a reorder.
Phrases and idioms:
repeating decimal a recurring decimal. repeat itself recur in the same form. repeat oneself say or do the same thing over again.
Derivatives:
repeatable adj. repeatability n. repeatedly adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF repeter f. L repetere (as RE-, petere seek)