returning


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

re·turn

 (rĭ-tûrn′)
v. re·turned, re·turn·ing, re·turns
v.intr.
1. To go or come back, as to an earlier condition or place: She returned to her office after lunch.
2. To revert in speech, thought, or practice: I returned to my knitting after answering the phone.
3. To revert to a former owner.
4. To answer or respond: I said hello to him, and he returned in kind.
v.tr.
1. To send, put, or carry back: We return bottles to the store.
2.
a. To give or send back in reciprocation: She returned his praise.
b. To give back to the owner: He returned her book.
c. To reflect or send back: The echo was returned by the canyon wall.
3. To produce or yield (profit or interest) as a payment for labor, investment, or expenditure.
4. Law
a. To submit (an official report, for example) to a judge or other person in authority.
b. To render or deliver (a writ or verdict, for example) to the proper officer or court of law.
5. To elect or reelect, as to a legislative body.
6. Games To respond to (a partner's lead) by leading the same suit in cards.
7. Architecture To turn away from or place at an angle to the previous line of direction.
8.
a. Sports To hit or send back (a tennis ball, for example) to one's opponent.
b. Football To run with (the ball) after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
n.
1.
a. The act or condition of going, coming, bringing, or sending back: After my return, we can discuss this matter further.
b. The act of bringing or sending something back to a previous place, condition, or owner: the late return of a library book.
2.
a. Something brought or sent back.
b. returns Merchandise returned, as to a retailer by a consumer or to a wholesaler by a retailer.
c. Something that goes or comes back.
3. A recurrence, as of a periodic occasion or event: the return of spring.
4. Something exchanged for that received; repayment.
5. A reply; a response.
6.
a. The profit made on an exchange of goods.
b. often returns A profit or yield, as from labor or investments.
c. Output or yield per unit rather than cost per unit, as in the manufacturing of a particular product.
7.
a. A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
b. often returns A report on the vote in an election.
c. Chiefly British An election.
8. Games A lead in certain card games that responds to the lead of one's partner.
9. Sports In tennis and certain other sports:
a. The act of hitting or sending the ball back to one's opponent.
b. The ball thus sent back.
10. Football
a. The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
b. The yardage so gained.
11. Architecture
a. The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
b. A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
12.
a. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
b. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
13.
a. The key or mechanism on a machine, such as a typewriter, that positions the carriage or printing element at the beginning of a new line.
b. A key on a computer keyboard or keypad used to begin a new line or paragraph in a text editor.
14. Chiefly British A roundtrip ticket.
15. Law
a. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
b. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
16. A formal tax statement on the required official form indicating taxable income, allowed deductions, exemptions, and the computed tax that is due. Also called income tax return, tax return.
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or bringing about a going or coming back to a place or situation: the return voyage; a return envelope.
2. Given, sent, or done in reciprocation or exchange: a return volley; a return invitation.
3. Performed, presented, or taking place again: a return engagement of the ballet; a return tennis match.
4. Returning or affording return or recirculation: a return plumbing pipe; a return valve.
5.
a. Reversing or changing direction.
b. Having or formed by a reversal or change in direction; returning on itself, as a bend in a road or stream.
Idiom:
in return
In repayment or reciprocation.

[Middle English retornen, from Old French retourner, from Vulgar Latin *retornāre : Latin re-, re- + Latin tornāre, to turn in a lathe; see turn.]

re·turn′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.returning - tending to return to an earlier state
regressive - opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state
2.returning - tending to be turned back
backward - directed or facing toward the back or rear; "a backward view"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

returning

:
returning board
n (US Pol) → Wahlausschuss m
returning officer
n (Brit Parl) → Wahlleiter(in) m(f)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
"It is what a brave man and a good friend should do," he said; "yet it seems most foolish, for the Mahars will most certainly condemn you to death for running away, and so you will be accomplishing nothing for your friends by returning. Never in all my life have I heard of a prisoner returning to the Mahars of his own free will.
Barbicane, Michel Ardan, Nicholl, and the delegates of the Gun Club, returning without delay to Baltimore, were received with indescribable enthusiasm.
On the question of my returning, or not returning, to Perthshire by the Government vessel?