retard Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person of subnormal intelligence
    half-wit; idiot; imbecile; changeling; moron; cretin.
  2. verb cause to move more slowly or operate at a slower rate
    • This drug will retard your heart rate
  3. verb be delayed
  4. verb slow the growth or development of
    delay; check.
    • The brain damage will retard the child's language development
  5. verb lose velocity; move more slowly
    decelerate; slow down; slow; slow up.
    • The car decelerated

WordNet

Re*tard" transitive verb
Etymology
L. retardare, retardatum; pref. re- re- + tardare to make slow, to delay, fr. tardus slow: cf. F. retarder. See Tardy.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Retarded; present participle & verbal noun Retarding
Definitions
  1. To keep delaying; to continue to hinder; to prevent from progress; to render more slow in progress; to impede; to hinder; as, to retard the march of an army; to retard the motion of a ship; -- opposed to accelerate.
  2. To put off; to postpone; as, to retard the attacks of old age; to retard a rupture between nations. Syn. -- To impede; hinder; obstruct; detain; delay; procrastinate; postpone; defer.
Re*tard" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To stay back. Obs. Sir. T. Browne.
Re*tard" noun
Definitions
  1. Retardation; delay. 2. A mentally retarded person. [Colloq.]

Webster 1913