- 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.
- to revert to a former owner: The money I gave him returns to me in the event of his death.
- to revert or recur, as in thought, discourse, etc.: He returned to his story.
- to make a reply or retort: She returned with a witty sally.
- 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.
- to send or give back in reciprocation, recompense, or requital: to return evil for good.
- 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.
- to give to a judge or official (a statement or a writ of actions done).
- to render (a verdict, decision, etc.).
- to reflect (light, sound, etc.).
- to yield (a profit, revenue, etc.), as in return for labor, expenditure, or investment.
- to report or announce officially: to return a list of members.
- to elect, as to a legislative body: The voters returned him to office by a landslide.
- to put (a weapon) back into its holder.
- to respond to (a suit led) by a similar lead: She returned diamonds.
- to turn back or in the reverse direction, as a served ball in tennis.
- 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.
- the act or fact of returning as by going or coming back or bringing, sending, or giving back: the return of the Jews from the Diaspora;We should appreciate your return of the book immediately.
- a recurrence: the return of the moon each month.
- reciprocation, repayment, or requital: profits in return for outlay.
- response or reply.
- a person or thing that is returned: returns of mill goods.
- the gain realized on an exchange of goods.
- a yield or profit, as from labor, land, business, or investment: He received a quick return on his money.
- tax return.
- an official or unofficial report on a count of votes, candidates elected, etc.: election returns.
- return ticket (def. 2).
- Architecture.
- the continuation of a molding, projection, etc., in a different direction.
- a side or part that falls away from the front of any straight or flat member or area.
- a tablelike extension attached at a right angle to a desk at typing height, for holding a typewriter, computer, etc.
- 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.
- See under carriage return (def. 2).
- Sports.
- the act of returning a ball.
- the ball that is returned.
- a runback of a kick, intercepted pass, or fumble recovery.
- yield per unit as compared to the cost per unit involved in a specific industrial process.
- Law.
- 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.
- a certified document by a great variety of officers, as assessors, collectors, and election officers.
- the report or certificate endorsed in such documents.
- a lead that responds to a partner's lead.
- a flat or drapery parallel to the tormentor for masking the offstage area and often completing the downstage part of a set.
- returns,
- merchandise shipped back to a supplier from a retailer or distributor as unsold or unsalable.
- merchandise returned to a retailer by a consumer.
- of or relating to a return or returning: a return trip.
- sent, given, or done in return: a return shot.
- done or occurring again: a return engagement of the opera.
- noting a person or thing that is returned or returning to a place:return cargo.
- changing in direction; doubling or returning on itself: a return twist in a road.
- used for returning, recirculating, etc.: the return road;a return pipe.
- (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.
- adequate, necessary, or provided to enable the return of a mailed package or letter to its sender: return postage guaranteed;return address;return envelope.
- to come back to a former place or state
- to give, take, or carry back; replace or restore
- to repay or recompense, esp with something of equivalent value
- to earn or yield (profit or interest) as an income from an investment or venture
- to come back or revert in thought or speech
- to recur or reappear
- to answer or reply
- to vote into office; elect
- (of a jury) to deliver or render (a verdict)
- to send back or reflect (light or sound)
- to submit (a report, etc) about (someone or something) to someone in authority
- to lead back (the suit led by one's partner)
- to hit, throw, or play (a ball) back
- to turn (a part, decorative moulding, etc) away from its original direction
- (of Christians) to say grace before a meal
- the act or an instance of coming back
- something that is given or sent back, esp unsatisfactory merchandise returned to the maker or supplier or a theatre ticket sent back by a purchaser for resale
- the act or an instance of putting, sending, or carrying back; replacement or restoration
- the yield, revenue, or profit accruing from an investment, transaction, or venture
- the act or an instance of reciprocation or repayment (esp in the phrase in return for)
- a recurrence or reappearance
- an official report, esp of the financial condition of a company
- a form (a tax return) on which a statement concerning one's taxable income is made
- the statement itself
- a statement of the votes counted at an election or poll
- an answer or reply
- British short for return ticket
- a second helping of food served at a table
- architect
- a part of a building that forms an angle with the façade
- any part of an architectural feature that forms an angle with the main part
- a report by a bailiff or other officer on the outcome of a formal document such as a claim, summons, etc, issued by a court
- a lead of a card in the suit that one's partner has previously led
- the act of playing or throwing a ball back
- by the next post back to the sender
- a conventional greeting to someone on his or her birthday
- the point at which a person's commitment is irrevocable
- of, relating to, or characterized by a return
- denoting a second, reciprocated occasion