Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense retards, present participle retarding, past tense, past participle retardedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (rɪtɑːʳd). The noun is pronounced (riːtɑːʳd).
1. verb
If something retards a process, or the development of something, it makes it happen more slowly.
[formal]
Continuing violence will retard negotiations over the country's future. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: slow down, check, arrest, delay More Synonyms of retard
2. countable noun
If you describe someone as a retard, you mean that they have not developed normally, either mentally or socially.
[informal, offensive, disapproval]
What the hell do I want with an emotional retard?
retard in British English
verb (rɪˈtɑːd)
1. (transitive)
to delay or slow down (the progress, speed, or development) of (something)
noun (ˈriːtɑːd)
2. offensive
a person with learning difficulties
3. offensive
a foolish person
Word origin
C15: from Old French retarder, from Latin retardāre, from re- + tardāre to make slow, from tardus sluggish; see tardy
retard in American English
(for 1–3, 5 rɪˈtɑːrd, for 4 ˈritɑːrd)
transitive verb
1.
to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede
intransitive verb
2.
to be delayed
noun
3.
a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine
4. derogatory slang
a.
a person who has learning difficulties
b.
a person who appears unintelligent, obtuse, or ineffective in some way
5. Automobiles & Machinery
an adjustment made in the setting of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine so that the spark for ignition in each cylinder is generated later in the cycle
Compare "> advance (sense 28)
Derived forms
retardingly
adverb
Word origin
[1480–90; ‹ L retardāre to delay, protract, equiv. to re-re- + tardāre to loiter, be slow, deriv. of tardus slow; see tardy]
Synonyms of 'retard'
slow down, check, arrest, delay
More Synonyms of retard
(verb)
Definition
to delay or slow down (the progress or development) of (something)
Continuing violence will retard negotiations.
Synonyms
slow down
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
arrest
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
delay
The passengers were delayed by bad weather.
handicap
Greater levels of stress may seriously handicap some students.
stall
an attempt to stall the negotiations
brake
detain
We won't detain you any further.
defer
clog
The traffic clogged the Thames bridges.
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
obstruct
Drivers who park illegally obstruct the flow of traffic.
impede
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
set back
encumber
fishermen encumbered with bulky clothing and boots
decelerate
The driver kept accelerating and decelerating.
hold back or up
Opposites
advance
,
stimulate
,
accelerate
,
speed up
,
hasten
,
expedite
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arrest
Definition
to slow or stop the development of
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
Synonyms
stop,
end,
hold,
limit,
check,
block,
slow,
delay,
halt,
stall,
stay,
interrupt,
suppress,
restrain,
hamper,
inhibit,
hinder,
obstruct,
retard,
impede
in the sense of check
Definition
to slow the growth or progress of
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
Synonyms
stop,
control,
limit,
arrest,
delay,
halt,
curb,
bar,
restrain,
inhibit,
rein,
thwart,
hinder,
repress,
obstruct,
retard,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
nip in the bud,
put a spoke in someone's wheel
in the sense of clog
Definition
to obstruct or become obstructed with thick or sticky matter
The traffic clogged the Thames bridges.
Synonyms
obstruct,
block,
jam,
hamper,
hinder,
impede,
bung,
stop up,
dam up,
occlude (formal),
congest
Nearby words of
retard
retainer
retaliate
retaliation
retard
retch
reticence
reticent
Synonyms of 'retard'
retard
Explore 'retard' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of decelerate
Definition
to slow down
The driver kept accelerating and decelerating.
Synonyms
slow down or up,
slow,
brake,
go slower,
put the brakes on,
reduce speed,
hit the brakes
in the sense of delay
Definition
to slow up or cause to be late
The passengers were delayed by bad weather.
Synonyms
hold up,
detain,
hold back,
stop,
arrest,
halt,
hinder,
obstruct,
retard,
impede,
bog down,
set back,
slow up
in the sense of detain
Definition
to delay (someone)
We won't detain you any further.
Synonyms
delay,
keep,
stop,
hold up,
hamper,
hinder,
retard,
impede,
keep back,
slow up or down
in the sense of encumber
Definition
to hinder or impede
fishermen encumbered with bulky clothing and boots
Synonyms
hamper,
restrict,
handicap,
slow down,
cramp,
inhibit,
clog,
hinder,
inconvenience,
overload,
impede,
weigh down,
trammel,
incommode (formal)
in the sense of handicap
Definition
to make it difficult for (someone) to do something
Greater levels of stress may seriously handicap some students.
Synonyms
hinder,
limit,
restrict,
burden,
hamstring,
hamper,
hold back,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
encumber,
place at a disadvantage
in the sense of hinder
Definition
to get in the way of (someone or something)
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
Synonyms
obstruct,
stop,
check,
block,
prevent,
arrest,
delay,
oppose,
frustrate,
handicap,
interrupt,
slow down,
deter,
hamstring,
hamper,
thwart,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
stymie,
encumber,
throw a spanner in the works,
trammel,
hold up or back
in the sense of impede
Definition
to block or make progress or action difficult
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
Synonyms
hinder,
stop,
slow (down),
check,
bar,
block,
delay,
hold up,
brake,
disrupt,
curb,
restrain,
hamper,
thwart,
clog,
obstruct,
retard,
encumber,
cumber,
throw a spanner in the works of (British, informal)
in the sense of obstruct
Definition
to make progress or activity difficult
Drivers who park illegally obstruct the flow of traffic.