retrieve Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb get or find back; recover the use of
    regain; recover; find.
    • She regained control of herself
    • She found her voice and replied quickly
  2. verb go for and bring back
    • retrieve the car from the parking garage
  3. verb run after, pick up, and bring to the master
    • train the dog to retrieve
  4. verb recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
    remember; recall; recollect; call back; think; call up.
    • I can't remember saying any such thing
    • I can't think what her last name was
    • can you remember her phone number?
    • Do you remember that he once loved you?
    • call up memories

WordNet

Re*trieve" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. retreven, OF. retrover to find again, recover (il retroevee finds again), F. retrouver; pref. re- re- + OF. trover to find, F. trouver. See Trover.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Retrieved ; present participle & verbal noun Retrieving
Definitions
  1. To find again; to recover; to regain; to restore from loss or injury; as, to retrieve one's character; to retrieve independence.
    With late repentance now they would retrieve The bodies they forsook, and wish to live. Dryden
  2. To recall; to bring back.
    To retrieve them from their cold, trivial conceits. Berkeley.
  3. To remedy the evil consequence of, to repair, as a loss or damadge.
    Accept my sorrow, and retrieve my fall. Prior.
    There is much to be done . . . and much to be retrieved. Burke.
    Syn. -- To recover; regain; recruit; repair; restore.
Re*trieve" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. (Sport.) To discover and bring in game that has been killed or wounded; as, a dog naturally inclined to retrieve. Walsh.
Re*trieve" noun
Definitions
  1. A seeking again; a discovery. Obs. B. Jonson.
  2. The recovery of game once sprung; -- an old sporting term. Obs. Nares.

Webster 1913