vi to stay back.
2. retard ·noun retardation; delay.
3. retard ·vt to put off; to postpone; as, to retard the attacks of old age; to retard a rupture between nations.
4. retard ·vt to keep delaying; to continue to hinder; to prevent from progress; to render more slow in progress; to impede; to hinder; as, to retard the march of an army; to retard the motion of a ship;
opposed to accelerate.