I. ri-ˈtərn verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French returner, from re- + turner, tourner to turn — more at turn
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to go back or come back again
return home
b. : to go back in thought, practice, or condition : revert
soon return ed to her old habit
2. : to pass back to an earlier possessor
3. : reply , retort
transitive verb
1.
a. : to give (as an official account) to a superior
b. British : to elect (a candidate) as attested by official report or returns
c. : to bring back (as a writ or verdict) to an office or tribunal
2.
a. : to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place
return the gun to its holster
b. : to restore to a former or to a normal state
3.
a. : to send back : visit — usually used with on or upon
b. obsolete : retort
4. : to bring in (as profit) : yield
5.
a. : to give or perform in return : repay
return a compliment
also : to respond to in kind
return ed his calls
b. : to give back to the owner
c. : reflect
return an echo
6. : to cause (as a wall) to continue in a different direction (as at a right angle)
7. : to lead (a specified suit or specified card of a suit) in response to a partner's earlier lead
8.
a. : to hit back (a ball or shuttlecock)
b. : to run with (a football) after a change of possession (as by a punt or a fumble)
Synonyms: see reciprocate
• re·turn·er noun
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : the act of coming back to or from a place or condition
b. : a regular or frequent returning : recurrence
2.
a.
(1) : the delivery of a legal order (as a writ) to the proper officer or court
(2) : an endorsed certificate stating an official's action in the execution of such an order
(3) : the sending back of a commission with the certificate of the commissioners
b. : an account or formal report
c.
(1) : a report of the results of balloting — usually used in plural
election return s
(2) : an official declaration of the election of a candidate
(3) chiefly British : election
d.
(1) : a formal statement on a required legal form showing taxable income, allowable deductions and exemptions, and the computation of the tax due
(2) : a list of taxable property
3.
a. : the continuation usually at a right angle of the face or of a member of a building or of a molding or group of moldings
b. : a means for conveying something (as water) back to its starting point
4.
a. : a quantity of goods, consignment, or cargo coming back in exchange for goods sent out as a mercantile venture
b. : the value of or profit from such venture
c.
(1) : the profit from labor, investment, or business : yield
(2) plural : results
d. : the rate of profit in a process of production per unit of cost
5.
a. : the act of returning something to a former place, condition, or ownership : restitution
the return of stolen goods
b. : something returned ; especially plural : unsold publications returned to the publisher for cash or credit
6.
a. : something given in repayment or reciprocation
a return on their years of hard work
b. : answer , retort
7. : an answering play: as
a. : a lead in a suit previously led by one's partner in a card game
b. : the action or an instance of returning a ball (as in football or tennis)
8. chiefly British : round-trip
•
- in return
III. adjective
Date: 1676
1.
a. : having or formed by a change of direction
a return facade
b. : doubled on itself
a return flue
2.
a. : played, delivered, or given in return
return fire from the enemy
b. : taking place for the second time
a return meeting for the two champions
3. : used or taken on returning
the return road
4. : returning or permitting return
a return valve
5. : of, relating to, or causing a return to a place or condition
use the prestamped return envelope