re·trieve

[ri-treev] verb, re·trieved, re·triev·ing, noun
verb (used with object)
1.
to recover or regain: to retrieve the stray ball.
2.
to bring back to a former and better state; restore: to retrieve one's fortunes.
3.
to make amends for: to retrieve an error.
4.
to make good; repair: to retrieve a loss.
5.
Hunting. (of hunting dogs) to fetch (killed or wounded game).
6.
to draw back or reel in (a fishing line).
7.
to rescue; save.
8.
(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) to make an in-bounds return of (a shot requiring running with the hand extended).
9.
Computers. to locate and read (data) from storage, as for display on a monitor.
verb (used without object)
10.
Hunting. to retrieve game.
11.
to retrieve a fishing line.
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noun
12.
an act of retrieving; recovery.
13.
the possibility of recovery.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English retreven < Middle French retroev-, retreuv-, tonic stem of retrouver to find again, equivalent to re- re- + trouver to find; see trover

Related forms
re·triev·a·ble, adjective
re·triev·a·bil·i·ty, noun
non·re·triev·a·ble, adjective
un·re·triev·a·ble, adjective
un·re·trieved, adjective

Synonyms
1. See recover.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To retrieve
Collins
World English Dictionary
retrieve (rɪˈtriːv) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb
1.  to get or fetch back again; recover: he retrieved his papers from various people's drawers
2.  to bring back to a more satisfactory state; revive
3.  to extricate from trouble or danger; rescue or save
4.  to recover or make newly available (stored information) from a computer system
5.  (also intr) (of a dog) to find and fetch (shot game)
6.  tennis, squash, badminton to return successfully (a shot difficult to reach)
7.  to recall; remember
 
—n
8.  the act of retrieving
9.  the chance of being retrieved
 
[C15: from Old French retrover, from re- + trouver to find, perhaps from Vulgar Latin tropāre (unattested) to compose; see trover, troubadour]
 
re'trievable
 
—adj
 
retrieva'bility
 
—n
 
re'trievably
 
—adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

retrieve
c.1410, retreve, from M.Fr. retruev-, stem of O.Fr. retrouver "find again," from re- "again" + trouver "to find," probably from V.L. *tropare "to compose" (see trove). Altered 16c. to retrive; modern form is from c.1650. Retriever "dog used for retrieving game" first recorded 1486.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

Retrieve definition

language
A query language inspired JPLDIS which led to Vulcan and then to dBASE II, developed by Tymshare Corp in the 1960s.
(1998-04-29)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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Example sentences
If the browser itself can store information, it won't have to constantly
  retrieve what it needs from the website you're using.
Retrieve the trap by pulling it up out of the water, either by hand or using
  the pulley on the boat designed for this purpose.
Fay was there, still perched in a tree, having meanwhile swum the lake to
  retrieve his own pack.
Those who try to retrieve the injured from the street are shot at.
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