- return
- return [ri tʉrn′]vi.[ME retournen < OFr retourner: see RE- & TURN]1. to go or come back, as to a former place, condition, practice, opinion, etc.2. to go back in thought or speech [to return to the subject]3. to revert to a former owner4. to answer; reply; retortvt.1. to bring, send, carry, or put back; restore or replace2. to give, send, or do (something equivalent to what has been given, sent, or done); give, send, or do in requital or reciprocation [to return a visit, compliment, etc.]3. to produce (a profit, revenue, etc.); yield4.a) to report or announce officially or formallyb) to turn in (a writ, account, or statement) to a judge or other official5. to elect or reelect, as to a legislature6. to replace (a weapon) in its holder7. to turn back or in the opposite direction8. to reflect (sound, light, etc.)9. Archit. to turn away from, or cause to continue on at an angle to, the previous line of direction10. Card Games to respond to (one's partner's lead) with a lead of the same suit11. Law to render (a verdict)12. Sports to hit, throw, or run back (a ball)n.[ME retorn < the v.]1. a coming or going back, as to a former place, condition, etc.2. a bringing, sending, carrying, or putting back; restoration or replacement3.a) something returnedb) [pl.] unsold merchandise returned to the distributor by a retailer or merchandise returned to a retailer by a purchaser4. a coming back again; reappearance; recurrence [many happy returns of the day]5. something done or given as an equivalent for that received; repayment; requital; reciprocation6.a) profit made on an exchange of goodsb) [often pl.] yield, profit, or revenue, as from labor, investments, etc.c) yield per unit as compared to cost per unit; rate of yield7. an answer; reply; retort8. a report; esp.,a) an official or formal report, as of the financial condition of a companyb) [usually pl.] a report on a count of votes at polling places [election returns]c) a form on which taxable income is reported and tax is computed: in full (income) tax return9. Archit.a) the continuation, as of a molding, colonnade, etc., in a different direction, often at a right angleb) a bend or turn, as in a line, wall, etc.c) the section between two such bends10. Card Games a lead in response to one's partner's lead11. Lawa) the bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, summons, etc. to the proper court or officialb) a certified report by an election official, assessor, etc.c) a certificate or report endorsed on any such document12. Sportsa) a hitting or throwing back of a ballb) a ball so returnedc) a running back of a football received on a kick or by an interceptionadj.1. of or for a return or returning [return postage]2. given, sent, done, etc. in return [a return match]3. occurring again [a return performance]4. returning or returned5. changing or reversing direction or formed by a change or reversal in direction, as a bend in a road——————in returnas a return; as an equivalent, response, etc.returnern.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.