— retardingly , adv.
/ri tahrd"/ , for 1-3, 5; /ree"tahrd/ for 4 , v.t.
1. to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.
v.i.
2. to be delayed.
n.
3. a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.
4. Slang ( disparaging ).
a. a mentally retarded person.
b. a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard.
5. Auto. , Mach. an adjustment made in the setting of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine so that the spark for ignition in each cylinder is generated later in the cycle. Cf. advance .
[ 1480-90; retardare to delay, protract, equiv. to re- RE- + tardare to loiter, be slow, deriv. of tardus slow; see TARDY ]
Syn. 1. obstruct, check.
Ant. 1. accelerate.