retrieve

present singular third person retrieves · participle present retrieving · participle past retrieved · past retrieved

1. transitiveTo regain or get back something.

   to retrieve one's character or independence; to retrieve a thrown ball

   1 more example

   With late repentance now they would retrieve / The bodies they forsook, and wish to live.

   1697, Virgil, “The Sixth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

2. transitiveTo rescue (a creature).
3. transitiveTo salvage something
4. transitiveTo remedy or rectify something.
5. transitiveTo remember or recall something.
6. transitiveTo fetch or carry back something, especially (computing) a file or data record.

   to retrieve them from their cold, trivial conceits

   1714, Rev. Dean Berkeley, letter to Alexander Pope, May 1, 1714

7. transitiveTo fetch and bring in game.

   The cook doesn't care what's shot, only what's actually retrieved.

8. intransitiveTo fetch and bring in game systematically.

   Dog breeds called 'retrievers' were selected for retrieving.

9. intransitiveTo fetch or carry back systematically, notably as a game.

   Most dogs love retrieving, regardless of what object is thrown.

10. transitivehobbiesTo make a difficult but successful return of the ball.
11. obsoleteTo remedy the evil consequence of, to repair (a loss or damage).

    Accept my sorrow, and retrieve my fall.

    1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Solomon on the Vanity of the World. A Poem in Three Books.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, (please specify the page)

    1 more example

    There is much to be done […] and much to be retrieved.

    1795–1797, Edmund Burke, “(please specify |letter=1 to 4)”, in [Letters on a Regicide Peace], London: [Rivington]

plural retrieves

1. A retrieval.

   Secondly, the number of retrieves given in any one session is restricted according to the dog's level of interest. If he is not madly keen he has perhaps two or three retrieves in a session, and on some days he will have none at all.

   2013, Margaret Allen, In the Bag!: Labrador Training from Puppy to Gundog

2. hobbiesThe return of a difficult ball.
3. obsoleteA seeking again; a discovery.
4. obsoleteThe recovery of game once sprung.

   we'll bring Wax to the retrieve

   1625 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Staple of Newes. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot […], published 1631, →OCLC, (please specify the page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)