I. rə̇ˈtärd, rēˈ-, -tȧd verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin retardare, from re- + tardare to make slow, to delay, from tardus slow — more at tardy
transitive verb
1. : to make slow or slower : delay or impede the progress, course, or event of : slow up by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment : keep back
the rate of downcutting in the section of the channel upstream from the gap was retarded — Journal of Geology
frequent wars, lack of roads and railroads, and bad government long combined to retard this area — Samuel Van Valkenburg & Ellsworth Huntington
language is at one and the same time helping and retarding us in our exploration of experience — Edward Sapir
mental evolution has perhaps retarded the progress of physical changes — W.R.Inge
2. : to delay academic progress by failure to promote (a pupil)
3. : to restrain (a plant) from growing
4. : to readjust the timing of (an ignition spark) so that ignition occurs later with reference to top dead center in the piston stroke
with a retarded spark and a late explosion, the combustion or burning of the charge of gas is not complete — A.L.Dyke
intransitive verb
: to become delayed : undergo retardation
Synonyms: see delay
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from Middle French retarder to retard, from Latin retardare
1. : delay through being retarded : retardation
a retard was needed in one passage of the Te Deum — Time
2. : a device for retarding an automotive ignition spark
•
- in retard
III. ˈrēˌtärd, rə̇ˈtärd noun
( -s )
Etymology: retard , verb
: a retarded person — often taken to be offensive; also : a person held to resemble a retarded person in behavior