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. repeating decimal a recurring decimal. repeat itself recur in the same form. repeat oneself say or do the same thing over again. repeatable adj. repeatability n. repeatedly adv.
[ ME f. OF repeter f. L repetere (as RE-, petere seek) ]