Return definition | Dictionary.com

re⋅turn

[ri-turn]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to go or come back, as to a former place, position, or state: to return from abroad; to return to public office; to return to work.

2.	to revert to a former owner: The money I gave him returns to me in the event of his death.

3.	to revert or recur, as in thought, discourse, etc.: He returned to his story.

4.	to make a reply or retort: She returned with a witty sally.

–verb (used with object)

5.	to put, bring, take, give, or send back to the original place, position, etc.: to return a book to a shelf; to return a child to her mother; to return the switch to off position.

6.	to send or give back in reciprocation, recompense, or requital: to return evil for good.

7.	to reciprocate, repay, or react to (something sent, given, done, etc.) with something similar: to return the enemy's fire; to return a favor.

Law.

a.	to give to a judge or official (a statement or a writ of actions done).

b.	to render (a verdict, decision, etc.).

9.	to reflect (light, sound, etc.).

10.	to yield (a profit, revenue, etc.), as in return for labor, expenditure, or investment.

11.	to report or announce officially: to return a list of members.

12.	to elect, as to a legislative body: The voters returned him to office by a landslide.

13.	Military. to put (a weapon) back into its holder.

14.	Cards. to respond to (a suit led) by a similar lead: She returned diamonds.

15.	to turn back or in the reverse direction, as a served ball in tennis.

16.	Chiefly Architecture. to cause to turn or proceed in a different direction from the previous line of direction; reverse: to return a cornice at each end of a façade.

–noun

17.	the act or fact of returning as by going or coming back or bringing, sending, or giving back: We should appreciate your return of the book immediately.

18.	a recurrence: the return of the moon each month.

19.	reciprocation, repayment, or requital: profits in return for outlay.

20.	response or reply.

21.	a person or thing that is returned: returns of mill goods.

22.	the gain realized on an exchange of goods.

23.	Often, returns. a yield or profit, as from labor, land, business, or investment: He received a quick return on his money.

24.	Also called tax return. a statement, on an officially prescribed form, of income, deductions, exemptions, etc., and taxes due.

25.	Usually, returns. an official or unofficial report on a count of votes, candidates elected, etc.: election returns.

26.	Chiefly British. return ticket (def. 2).

27.

Architecture.

a.	the continuation of a molding, projection, etc., in a different direction.

b.	a side or part that falls away from the front of any straight or flat member or area.

28.	a tablelike extension attached at a right angle to a desk at typing height, for holding a typewriter, computer, etc.

29.	a key or lever on a typewriter or other business machine that returns the carriage to the extreme right, or the typing element to the extreme left, for the beginning of a new line.

30.	Computers. See under carriage return (def. 2).

31.

Sports.

a.	the act of returning a ball.

b.	the ball that is returned.

32.	Football. a runback of a kick, intercepted pass, or fumble recovery.

33.	Economics. yield per unit as compared to the cost per unit involved in a specific industrial process.

34.

Law.

a.	the bringing or sending back of various documents, such as a writ, summons, or subpoena, with a brief written report usually endorsed upon it, by a sheriff, to the court from which it issued.

b.	a certified document by a great variety of officers, as assessors, collectors, and election officers.

c.	the report or certificate endorsed in such documents.

35.	Cards. a lead that responds to a partner's lead.

36.	Theater. a flat or drapery parallel to the tormentor for masking the offstage area and often completing the downstage part of a set.

37.

returns,

a.	merchandise shipped back to a supplier from a retailer or distributor as unsold or unsalable.

b.	merchandise returned to a retailer by a consumer.

–adjective

38.	of or pertaining to a return or returning: a return trip.

39.	sent, given, or done in return: a return shot.

40.	done or occurring again: a return engagement of the opera.

41.	noting a person or thing that is returned or returning to a place: return cargo.

42.	changing in direction; doubling or returning on itself: a return twist in a road.

43.	used for returning, recirculating, etc.: the return road; a return pipe.

44.	(of a game) played in order to provide the loser of an earlier game with the opportunity to win from the same opponent: return match.

45.	adequate, necessary, or provided to enable the return of a mailed package or letter to its sender: return postage guaranteed; return address; return envelope.

Origin:
1275–1325; (v.) ME retornen < MF retorner, returner, OF (see re-, turn ); (n.) ME < AF retorn, return, deriv. of OF retorner, returner; (adj.) deriv. of the n.

Synonyms:
4. rejoin. 5. replace. 6. exchange. 10. pay, repay. 23. revenue, income.

carriage return

–noun

1.	(on a typewriter) the key or mechanism that causes the next character typed to appear at the left margin and on a new line.

2.	Computers. the symbol, command, or key (return) that causes the printer to be positioned or the cursor to be displayed at the left margin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To Return

re·turn (rĭ-tûrn')

v. re·turned, re·turn·ing, re·turns

v. intr.

To go or come back, as to an earlier condition or place.
To revert in speech, thought, or practice.
To revert to a former owner.
To answer or respond.

v. tr.

To send, put, or carry back: We return bottles to the store.
1. To give or send back in reciprocation: She returned his praise. See Synonyms at reciprocate.
2. To give back to the owner: He returned her book.
3. To reflect or send back: The echo was returned by the canyon wall.
4. To submit (an official report, for example) to a judge or other person in authority.
5. To render or deliver (a writ or verdict, for example) to the proper officer or court of law.
6. Sports To send back (a tennis ball, for example) to one's opponent.
7. Football To run with (the ball) after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
To produce or yield (profit or interest) as a payment for labor, investment, or expenditure.
Law
1. To submit (an official report, for example) to a judge or other person in authority.
2. To render or deliver (a writ or verdict, for example) to the proper officer or court of law.
3. Sports To send back (a tennis ball, for example) to one's opponent.
4. Football To run with (the ball) after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
To elect or reelect, as to a legislative body.
Games To respond to (a partner's lead) by leading the same suit in cards.
Architecture To turn away from or place at an angle to the previous line of direction.
1. Sports To send back (a tennis ball, for example) to one's opponent.
2. Football To run with (the ball) after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.

1. The act or condition of going, coming, bringing, or sending back.
2. The act of bringing or sending something back to a previous place, condition, or owner.
3. Something brought or sent back.
4. returns Merchandise returned, as to a retailer by a consumer or to a wholesaler by a retailer.
5. Something that goes or comes back.
6. The profit made on an exchange of goods.
7. A profit or yield, as from labor or investments. Often used in the plural.
8. Output or yield per unit rather than cost per unit, as in the manufacturing of a particular product.
9. A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
10. A report on the vote in an election. Often used in the plural.
11. Chiefly British An election.
12. The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
13. The ball thus sent back.
14. The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
15. The yardage so gained.
16. The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
17. A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
18. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
19. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
20. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
21. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
1. Something brought or sent back.
2. returns Merchandise returned, as to a retailer by a consumer or to a wholesaler by a retailer.
3. Something that goes or comes back.
4. The profit made on an exchange of goods.
5. A profit or yield, as from labor or investments. Often used in the plural.
6. Output or yield per unit rather than cost per unit, as in the manufacturing of a particular product.
7. A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
8. A report on the vote in an election. Often used in the plural.
9. Chiefly British An election.
10. The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
11. The ball thus sent back.
12. The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
13. The yardage so gained.
14. The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
15. A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
16. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
17. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
18. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
19. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
A recurrence, as of a periodic occasion or event: the return of spring.
Something exchanged for that received; repayment.
A reply; a response.
1. The profit made on an exchange of goods.
2. A profit or yield, as from labor or investments. Often used in the plural.
3. Output or yield per unit rather than cost per unit, as in the manufacturing of a particular product.
4. A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
5. A report on the vote in an election. Often used in the plural.
6. Chiefly British An election.
7. The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
8. The ball thus sent back.
9. The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
10. The yardage so gained.
11. The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
12. A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
13. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
14. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
15. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
16. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
1. A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
2. A report on the vote in an election. Often used in the plural.
3. Chiefly British An election.
4. The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
5. The ball thus sent back.
6. The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
7. The yardage so gained.
8. The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
9. A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
10. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
11. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
12. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
13. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
Games A lead in certain card games that responds to the lead of one's partner.
Sports In tennis and certain other sports:
1. The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
2. The ball thus sent back.
3. The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
4. The yardage so gained.
5. The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
6. A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
7. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
8. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
9. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
10. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
Football
1. The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
2. The yardage so gained.
3. The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
4. A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
5. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
6. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
7. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
8. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
Architecture
1. The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
2. A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
3. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
4. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
5. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
6. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
1. A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
2. A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
3. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
4. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
The key or mechanism on a machine, such as a typewriter or computer, that positions the carriage, cursor, or printing element at the beginning of a new line.
Chiefly British A roundtrip ticket.
Law
1. The bringing or sending back of a writ, subpoena, or other document, generally with a short written report on it, by a sheriff or other officer to the court from which it was issued.
2. A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
A formal tax statement on the required official form indicating taxable income, allowed deductions, exemptions, and the computed tax that is due. Also called income tax return, tax return.

adj.

Of, relating to, or bringing about a going or coming back to a place or situation: the return voyage; a return envelope.
Given, sent, or done in reciprocation or exchange: a return volley; a return invitation.
Performed, presented, or taking place again: a return engagement of the ballet; a return tennis match.
Used on or for returning: a return route.
Returning or affording return or recirculation: a return plumbing pipe; a return valve.
Relating to or being a roundtrip ticket.
1. Reversing or changing direction.
2. Having or formed by a reversal or change in direction; returning on itself, as a bend in a road or stream.

[Middle English retornen, from Old French retourner, from Vulgar Latin *retornāre : Latin re-, re- + Latin tornāre, to turn in a lathe; see turn.]
re·turn'er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Return

Re*turn"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Returned; p. pr. & vb. n. Returning.] [OE. returnen, retournen, F. retourner; pref. re- re- + tourner to turn. See Turn.]

1. To turn back; to go or come again to the same place or condition. "Return to your father's house." --Chaucer.

On their embattled ranks the waves return. --Milton.

If they returned out of bondage, it must be into a state of freedom. --Locke.

Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. --Gen. iii. 19.

2. To come back, or begin again, after an interval, regular or irregular; to appear again.

With the year Seasons return; but not me returns Day or the sweet approach of even or morn. --Milton.

3. To speak in answer; to reply; to respond.

He said, and thus the queen of heaven returned. --Pope.

4. To revert; to pass back into possession.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David. --1Kings xii. 26.

5. To go back in thought, narration, or argument. "But to return to my story." --Fielding.

Return

Re*turn"\, v. t. 1. To bring, carry, send, or turn, back; as, to return a borrowed book, or a hired horse.

Both fled attonce, ne ever back returned eye. --Spenser.

2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money.

3. To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head. --1 Kings ii. 44.

4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return thanks.

5. To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie.

If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me, that I affect to be thought more impartial than I am. --Dryden.

6. To report, or bring back and make known.

And all the people answered together, . . . and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. --Ex. xix. 8.

7. To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially by a list or statement; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to return the result of an election.

8. Hence, to elect according to the official report of the election officers. [Eng.]

9. To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ.

10. To convey into official custody, or to a general depository.

Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return the same to the treasurer for his majesty's use. --Clarendon.

11. (Tennis) To bat (the ball) back over the net.

12. (Card Playing) To lead in response to the lead of one's partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a club.

To return a lead (Card Playing), to lead the same suit led by one's partner.

Syn: To restore; requite; repay; recompense; render; remit; report.

Return

Re*turn"\, n. 1. The act of returning (intransitive), or coming back to the same place or condition; as, the return of one long absent; the return of health; the return of the seasons, or of an anniversary.

At the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. --1 Kings xx. 22.

His personal return was most required and necessary. --Shak.

2. The act of returning (transitive), or sending back to the same place or condition; restitution; repayment; requital; retribution; as, the return of anything borrowed, as a book or money; a good return in tennis.

You made my liberty your late request: Is no return due from a grateful breast? --Dryden.

3. That which is returned. Specifically: (a) A payment; a remittance; a requital.

I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond. --Shak. (b) An answer; as, a return to one's question. (c) An account, or formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts or statistics, and the like; as, election returns; a return of the amount of goods produced or sold; especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information. (d) The profit on, or advantage received from, labor, or an investment, undertaking, adventure, etc.

The fruit from many days of recreation is very little; but from these few hours we spend in prayer, the return is great. --Jer. Taylor.

4. (Arch.) The continuation in a different direction, most often at a right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, as a molding or mold; -- applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the longer; thus, a facade of sixty feet east and west has a return of twenty feet north and south.

5. (Law) (a) The rendering back or delivery of writ, precept, or execution, to the proper officer or court. (b) The certificate of an officer stating what he has done in execution of a writ, precept, etc., indorsed on the document. (c) The sending back of a commission with the certificate of the commissioners. (d) A day in bank. See Return day, below. --Blackstone.

6. (Mil. & Naval) An official account, report, or statement, rendered to the commander or other superior officer; as, the return of men fit for duty; the return of the number of the sick; the return of provisions, etc.

7. pl. (Fort. & Mining) The turnings and windings of a trench or mine.

Return ball, a ball held by an elastic string so that it returns to the hand from which it is thrown, -- used as a plaything.

Return bend, a pipe fitting for connecting the contiguous ends of two nearly parallel pipes lying alongside or one above another.

Return day (Law), the day when the defendant is to appear in court, and the sheriff is to return the writ and his proceedings.

Return flue, in a steam boiler, a flue which conducts flame or gases of combustion in a direction contrary to their previous movement in another flue.

Return pipe (Steam Heating), a pipe by which water of condensation from a heater or radiator is conveyed back toward the boiler.

Language Translation for : Return

Spanish: volver, regresar,

German: zurückkehren,

Japanese: 帰る

More Translations »

return

c.1366, "to come back," from O.Fr. retorner "turn back, return," from re- "back" + torner "to turn" (see turn). Transitive sense is attested from c.1420. The noun is first attested c.1390, "act of coming back;" in the tennis sense, it is from 1886. Meaning "official report of election results" is attested from 1459. Meaning "a yield, a profit" is recorded from 1626. Many happy returns of the day was used by Addison, 1716.

Return

The gain or loss of a security in a particular period. The return consists of the income and the capital gains relative on an investment. It is usually quoted as a percentage.

Investopedia Commentary

The general rule is that the more risk you take, the greater the potential for higher return - and loss.

Return is also used as an abbreviation for income tax return, see 1040 Form.

return

See yield.

Main Entry: re·turn
Function: transitive verb
1 a : to give (an official account or report) to a superior (as by a list or statement) <return the names of all residents in the ward> <return a list of jurors> b : to bring back (as a writ, verdict, or indictment) to an office or tribunal return the execution…to the proper clerk within sixty days —J. H. Friedenthal et al.> returned six indictments> <returned a verdict of not guilty>
2 : to bring in or produce (as earnings or profit) : YIELD —re·turn·able adjective

Main Entry: return
Function: noun
1 a : the delivery of a court order (as a writ) to the proper officer or court b : PROOF OF SERVICE
2 : RETURN DAY
3 : an account or formal report (as of an action performed or duty discharged or of facts and statistics) returns>; especially : a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information —usually used in pl.
4 a : a report of the results of balloting returns> b : an official declaration of the election of a candidate returns, and qualifications of its own members —U.S. Constitution article I>
5 : a formal document executed in accordance with law on a required form showing taxable income, allowable deductions and exemptions, and the computation of the tax due called also tax return
6 : the profit from labor, investment, or business : YIELD
7 : something returned; specifically : a paper (as a check or draft) calling for payment that is returned by a bank to the clearinghouse because of a defect (as lack of funds or insufficient endorsement)

return

In addition to the idioms beginning with return, also see in return; many happy returns; point of no return.

Search another word or see Return on Thesaurus | Reference

The UPS Store®
Need to return or exchange an item? Ship it back from the UPS Store.

www.TheUPSStore.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us