- return
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/ri terrn"/, v.i.1. to go or come back, as to a former place, position, or state: to return from abroad; to return to public office; to return to work.2. to revert to a former owner: The money I gave him returns to me in the event of his death.3. to revert or recur, as in thought, discourse, etc.: He returned to his story.4. to make a reply or retort: She returned with a witty sally.v.t.5. to put, bring, take, give, or send back to the original place, position, etc.: to return a book to a shelf; to return a child to her mother; to return the switch to off position.6. to send or give back in reciprocation, recompense, or requital: to return evil for good.7. to reciprocate, repay, or react to (something sent, given, done, etc.) with something similar: to return the enemy's fire; to return a favor.8. Law.a. to give to a judge or official (a statement or a writ of actions done).b. to render (a verdict, decision, etc.).11. to report or announce officially: to return a list of members.12. to elect, as to a legislative body: The voters returned him to office by a landslide.13. Mil. to put (a weapon) back into its holder.14. Cards. to respond to (a suit led) by a similar lead: She returned diamonds.15. to turn back or in the reverse direction, as a served ball in tennis.16. Chiefly Archit. to cause to turn or proceed in a different direction from the previous line of direction; reverse: to return a cornice at each end of a façade.n.17. the act or fact of returning as by going or coming back or bringing, sending, or giving back: We should appreciate your return of the book immediately.18. a recurrence: the return of the moon each month.19. reciprocation, repayment, or requital: profits in return for outlay.20. response or reply.21. a person or thing that is returned: returns of mill goods.22. the gain realized on an exchange of goods.23. Often, returns. a yield or profit, as from labor, land, business, or investment: He received a quick return on his money.24. Also called tax return. a statement, on an officially prescribed form, of income, deductions, exemptions, etc., and taxes due.25. Usually, returns. an official or unofficial report on a count of votes, candidates elected, etc.: election returns.27. Archit.a. the continuation of a molding, projection, etc., in a different direction.b. a side or part that falls away from the front of any straight or flat member or area.28. a tablelike extension attached at a right angle to a desk at typing height, for holding a typewriter, computer, etc.29. a key or lever on a typewriter or other business machine that returns the carriage to the extreme right, or the typing element to the extreme left, for the beginning of a new line.31. Sports.a. the act of returning a ball.b. the ball that is returned.32. Football. a runback of a kick, intercepted pass, or fumble recovery.33. Econ. yield per unit as compared to the cost per unit involved in a specific industrial process.34. Law.a. the bringing or sending back of various documents, such as a writ, summons, or subpoena, with a brief written report usually endorsed upon it, by a sheriff, to the court from which it issued.b. a certified document by a great variety of officers, as assessors, collectors, and election officers.c. the report or certificate endorsed in such documents.35. Cards. a lead that responds to a partner's lead.36. Theat. a flat or drapery parallel to the tormentor for masking the offstage area and often completing the downstage part of a set.37. returns,a. merchandise shipped back to a supplier from a retailer or distributor as unsold or unsalable.b. merchandise returned to a retailer by a consumer.adj.38. of or pertaining to a return or returning: a return trip.39. sent, given, or done in return: a return shot.40. done or occurring again: a return engagement of the opera.41. noting a person or thing that is returned or returning to a place: return cargo.42. changing in direction; doubling or returning on itself: a return twist in a road.43. used for returning, recirculating, etc.: the return road; a return pipe.44. (of a game) played in order to provide the loser of an earlier game with the opportunity to win from the same opponent: return match.45. adequate, necessary, or provided to enable the return of a mailed package or letter to its sender: return postage guaranteed; return address; return envelope.[1275-1325; (v.) ME retornen < MF retorner, returner, OF (see RE-, TURN); (n.) ME < AF retorn, return, deriv. of OF retorner, returner; (adj.) deriv. of the n.]
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Universalium. 2010.