v. & n.
--v.tr.
1. a regain possession of. b recover by investigation or effort of memory.
2 a restore to knowledge or recall to mind. b obtain (information stored in a computer etc.).
3 (of a dog) find and bring in (killed or wounded game etc.).
4 (foll. by from) recover or rescue (esp. from a bad state).
5 restore to a flourishing state; revive.
6 repair or set right (a loss or error etc.) (managed to retrieve the situation).
--n. the possibility of recovery (beyond retrieve).
Derivatives:
retrievable adj. retrieval n.
Etymology: ME f. OF retroeve- stressed stem of retrover (as RE-, trover find)