Definition of retrieve
retrieved
;retrieving
transitive verb
1 : to locate and bring in (killed or wounded game)
2 : to call to mind again
3 : to get back again : regain
4a : rescue, salvageb : to return (something, such as a ball or shuttlecock that is difficult to reach) successfully
6 : to remedy the evil consequences of : correct
7 : to get and bring back; especially : to recover from storage retrieve information
intransitive verb
: to bring in game a dog that retrieves well; also : to bring back an object thrown by a person
From the M-W Editors
Examples of retrieve in a Sentence
Many archaeological relics were retrieved from the site.
Police retrieved his stolen car.
You can quickly retrieve data.
The files were retrieved from the computer.
He was able to retrieve the document.
The dog is learning how to retrieve.
The dog has been trained to retrieve birds.
Origin and Etymology of retrieve
Middle English retreven, from Anglo-French retrueve-, present stem of retrover to find again, from re- + trover to compose, invent, find, from Vulgar Latin *tropare — more at troubadour
retrieve
Definition of retrieve
1 : retrieval
2 : the successful return of a ball that is difficult to reach or control (as in tennis)
First Known Use of retrieve
1658
RETRIEVE Defined for English Language Learners
retrieve
playDefinition of retrieve for English Language Learners
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: to get and bring (something) back from a place
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: to find and get (information) from a computer or disk
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: to find and bring birds or animals that have been shot back to a hunter
RETRIEVE Defined for Kids
retrieve
playDefinition of retrieve for Students
retrieved
;retrieving
1 : to get and bring back One of the players retrieved the ball.
2 : to find and bring back killed or wounded game The dog learned to retrieve birds.
Learn More about retrieve
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See words that rhyme with retrieve Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for retrieve Spanish Central: Translation of retrieve Nglish: Translation of retrieve for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of retrieve for Arabic speakers
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