retrofitn.
/ˈrɛtrə(ʊ)ˌfɪt/, U.S. /ˈrɛtroʊˌfɪt/ Originally U.S.
A modification made to a product or structure to incorporate changes and developments introduced since manufacture or construction; the action or fact of modifying a product or structure in this manner. Also figurative.With reference to buildings, in later use often implying (an instance of) the making of adaptations to improve energy efficiency or to counteract or mitigate the effects of climate change.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > [noun] > change within limits, variation, or modification > instance of > made to something
twerk1940
retrofit1951
tweak1974
1951 Los Angeles Times 3 Oct. i. 25/2 The facility..will be used..as a ‘retrofit’ or modification center for aircraft changes ordered by the Air Force.
1954 SAE Trans. (Soc. Automotive Engineers) 62 136/2 Recent experience has shown the installation problems presented by aircraft manufacturers and the USAF..are for retrofits on existent tactical aircraft.
1962 Flight Internat. 81 292/1 The economic cut-off point for retrofit is near the 100ft ceiling, ¼ mile point.
1993 J. R. Grodin et al. Calif. State Constit.: Ref. Guide ii. Article XIIIA. 244 The addition of fire-sprinklers, seismic safety renovations, and seismic retrofits.
1997 Resource Packet for Neo-paganism & Witchcraft 202/1 In the 1970s it [sc. witchcraft] experienced a revival and retrofit, when interest in feminism, environmentalism, alternative religions, and general New-Agey woo-woo began to flower.
2006 A. Steffen et al. Worldchanging (2008) 182/1 The Renewable Energy Handbook..discusses both new home designs and retrofits, providing case studies.
2021 Clean Slate Spring 14 A new vision for a building industry that prioritises energy efficiency in both new build and retrofit.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1982; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
retrofitv.
/ˌrɛtrəʊˈfɪt/, /ˈrɛtrə(ʊ)ˌfɪt/, U.S. /ˌrɛtroʊˈfɪt/, /ˈrɛtroʊˌfɪt/ Originally U.S.
1. transitive. To provide (something) with a component or feature not fitted during manufacture; to add (a component or feature) to something that did not have it when first constructed. Also intransitive.With reference to buildings, in later use often implying the making of adaptations to improve energy efficiency or to counteract or mitigate the effects of climate change.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change [verb (transitive)] > modify
moder1414
moderate1477
modify1759
transmodifya1774
retrofit1949
mod1958
1949 Investig. B-36 Bomber Program (U.S. Congr. 1st Sess. House. Hearings Comm. Armed Services) 54 Consolidated..offered to study the possibility of retrofitting the remaining A and B models, which were much nearer completion.
1973 Guardian 18 Jan. 4/4 American aircraft manufacturers are now researching a modification, known as ‘retro-fitting’ their engines to make them a good deal quieter... But Concorde..cannot be retrofitted except at extreme cost.
1975 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 3 May 14/4 You can't retrofit... That is, an existing furnace—coal or oil-fired—cannot feasibly be replaced with a solar system.
1993 D. Stewart & R. Knox Earthquake that never went Away 57 They decided to retrofit the building so that it would not collapse in an earthquake.
2008 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 10 Jan. a18/4 The city..plans to..retrofit larger trucks in the municipal fleet..with guard bars.
2021 Yorks. Post (Nexis) 26 Mar. The report..suggests..devolving responsibility for electric vehicle charging networks and retrofitting housing stock to local government.
2. transitive. figurative. To alter or adjust in order to reflect new developments or requirements; to endow with new characteristics or qualities.
ΚΠ
1969 Accident Prevention Man. Industr. Operations (U.S. National Safety Council) (ed. 6) v. 104/2 Designing the system to fit the characteristics of people rather than retrofitting people into the system.
1972 Environmental Sci. & Technol. Aug. 696/3 The program was designed to retrain and retrofit people put out of work by the recent crunch in government space and defense spending.
1992 N.Y. Times 16 Aug. i. 24/1 Bush strategists have struggled to retrofit Mr. Bush, a President consumed with foreign policy, for a country consumed with..domestic concerns.
2003 R. G. S. Cooper Anglo-Maratha Campaigns & Contest for India 12 Over time, it was rewritten and sanitized so that it could be conveniently retrofitted to the later image of Arthur.
Derivatives
retroˈfittable adj.
ΚΠ
1972 Sci. News 18 Mar. 190/3 Another such program is expected to produce retrofittable packages.
1994 Computer Weekly 17 Feb. 4/4 More importantly, they will be retrofittable with 64-bit PowerPC chips which will be up to three times more powerful.
2007 Courier Mail (Austral.) (Nexis) 13 Oct. c12 In combination with the retrofittable Gore-Tex insert, the Santiago Suit becomes a watertight all-rounder.
ˈretrofitted adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > [adjective] > varying or modifying > modified
modified1866
paraschematic1868
modificational1924
retrofitted1951
1951 Amer. Aviation 30 July 2/1 (heading) Retrofitted Neptunes.
1962 Flight Internat. 81 292/1 Fig. 2 is a plot of the ratios of revenue lost versus maintenance and first costs for retro-fitted and ‘designed-in’ equipment.
2002 Economist 6 July 93/2 Smaller CO2 sources (such as car engines and homes)..are unlikely to be susceptible to retrofitted scrubbing.
ˈretrofitting n.
ΚΠ
1949 National Mil. Establishment Appropriation Bill 1950 (U.S. House Appropriations Comm., 81st Congr., 1st Sess. Part II. (Air Force)) 181 The navigation receiver is required for the retrofitting of all tactical type aircraft in order for military aircraft to fly the Federal airways.
1966 Technometrics 8 80 There is..much need for retrofitting of our present plants so that they can produce to their optimum capacity.
2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 19 Feb. a21/5 The Columbia, like the other shuttles, was upgraded regularly. It had major retrofittings in 1991 and 1994.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1951v.1949