retrograde

¹ret·ro·grade

adj \ˈre-trə-ˌgrād\

Definition of RETROGRADE

1

a (1) : having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies and especially east to west among the stars <Saturn is retrograde for another week> (2) : having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is clockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet <a retrograde orbit> b (1) : moving, occurring, or performed in a backward direction (2) : occurring or performed in a direction opposite to the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow — compare anterograde 1 c : contrary to the normal order : inverse

2

: tending toward or resulting in a worse or previous state

3

archaic : contradictory, opposed

4

: characterized by retrogression

5

: affecting memories of a period prior to a shock or seizure <retrograde amnesia>

6

: retro <retrograde fashion>

— ret·ro·grade·ly adverb

Examples of RETROGRADE

1. a retrograde policy that would leave more people poorer than they are now
2. <retrograde pedaling will engage the brakes on that bike>

Origin of RETROGRADE

Middle English, from Latin retrogradus, from retrogradi

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to RETROGRADE

Synonyms: rearward, backward

Antonyms: contemporary, current, hot, mod, modern, modernist, modernistic, new age, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, ultramodern, up-to-date

Related Words: reverse, reversed; aft, after, hind, posterior, rear; astern, sternforemost

Near Antonyms: forward

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Astronomy Terms

gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith

Rhymes with RETROGRADE

accolade, Adelaide, ambuscade, aquacade, balustrade, barricade, cable-laid, cannonade, carronade, cavalcade, centigrade, chambermaid, chiffonade, colonnade, countertrade, custom-made, dairymaid, defilade, enfilade, escalade, escapade, esplanade, everglade, foreign aid, fusillade, gallopade, gasconade, grant-in-aid, hawser-laid, hearing aid, intergrade, legal aid, lemonade, marinade, marmalade, masquerade, meter maid, motorcade, orangeade, orthograde, overtrade, palisade, panty raid, pasquinade, plantigrade, promenade, ready-made, renegade, serenade, stock-in-trade, tailor-made, underlaid, visual aid