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.
8.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To give or send back in reciprocation: She returned his praise. See Synonyms at reciprocate.
To give back to the owner: He returned her book.
To reflect or send back: The echo was returned by the canyon wall.
To submit (an official report, for example) to a judge or other person in authority.
To render or deliver (a writ or verdict, for example) to the proper officer or court of law.
Sports To send back (a tennis ball, for example) to one's opponent.
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
To submit (an official report, for example) to a judge or other person in authority.
To render or deliver (a writ or verdict, for example) to the proper officer or court of law.
Sports To send back (a tennis ball, for example) to one's opponent.
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.
Sports To send back (a tennis ball, for example) to one's opponent.
Football To run with (the ball) after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
n.
The act or condition of going, coming, bringing, or sending back.
The act of bringing or sending something back to a previous place, condition, or owner.
Something brought or sent back.
returns Merchandise returned, as to a retailer by a consumer or to a wholesaler by a retailer.
Something that goes or comes back.
The profit made on an exchange of goods.
A profit or yield, as from labor or investments. Often used in the plural.
Output or yield per unit rather than cost per unit, as in the manufacturing of a particular product.
A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
A report on the vote in an election. Often used in the plural.
Chiefly British An election.
The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
The ball thus sent back.
The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
The yardage so gained.
The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
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.
A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
Something brought or sent back.
returns Merchandise returned, as to a retailer by a consumer or to a wholesaler by a retailer.
Something that goes or comes back.
The profit made on an exchange of goods.
A profit or yield, as from labor or investments. Often used in the plural.
Output or yield per unit rather than cost per unit, as in the manufacturing of a particular product.
A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
A report on the vote in an election. Often used in the plural.
Chiefly British An election.
The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
The ball thus sent back.
The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
The yardage so gained.
The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
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.
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.
The profit made on an exchange of goods.
A profit or yield, as from labor or investments. Often used in the plural.
Output or yield per unit rather than cost per unit, as in the manufacturing of a particular product.
A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
A report on the vote in an election. Often used in the plural.
Chiefly British An election.
The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
The ball thus sent back.
The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
The yardage so gained.
The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
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.
A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
A report, list, or set of statistics, especially one that is formal or official.
A report on the vote in an election. Often used in the plural.
Chiefly British An election.
The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
The ball thus sent back.
The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
The yardage so gained.
The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
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.
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:
The act of sending the ball back to one's opponent.
The ball thus sent back.
The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
The yardage so gained.
The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
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.
A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
Football
The act of running back the ball after a kickoff, punt, interception, or fumble.
The yardage so gained.
The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
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.
A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
Architecture
The extension of a molding, projection, or other part at an angle (usually 90°) to the main part.
A part of a building set at an angle to the façade.
A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
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.
A certified report by an assessor, election officer, collector, or other official.
A turn, bend, or similar reversal of direction, as in a stream or road.
A pipe or conduit for carrying something, especially water, back to its starting point.
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.
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
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.
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.
Reversing or changing direction.
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.
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.
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)
[ri-turn] 
