Collins English-English Dictionary

return [rɪ't3ːn]

1. 1. vi. [intr] to come back to a former place or state

2. 2. vt. [tr] to give, take, or carry back; replace or restore

3. 3. vt. [tr] to repay or recompense, esp with something of equivalent value

   return the compliment

4. 4. vt. [tr] to earn or yield (profit or interest) as an income from an investment or venture

5. 5. vi. [intr] to come back or revert in thought or speech

   I'll return to that later

6. 6. vi. [intr] to recur or reappear

   the symptoms have returned

7. 7. vi. to answer or reply

8. 8. vt. [tr] to vote into office; elect

9. 9. vt. [tr] [law] (of a jury) to deliver or render (a verdict)

10. 10. vt. [tr] to send back or reflect (light or sound)

    the canyon returned my shout

11. 11. vt. [tr] to submit (a report, etc) about (someone or something) to someone in authority

12. 12. vt. [tr] [cards] to lead back (the suit led by one's partner)

13. 13. vt. [tr] [ball games] to hit, throw, or play (a ball) back

14. 14. vt. [tr] [architect] to turn (a part, decorative moulding, etc) away from its original direction

15. 15. n the act or an instance of coming back

16. 16. n 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

17. 17. n the act or an instance of putting, sending, or carrying back; replacement or restoration

18. 18. n [often plural] the yield, revenue, or profit accruing from an investment, transaction, or venture

19. 19. n the act or an instance of reciprocation or repayment (esp in the phrase in return for)

20. 20. n a recurrence or reappearance

21. 21. n an official report, esp of the financial condition of a company

22. 22. n a form (a tax return) on which a statement concerning one's taxable income is made

23. 23. n the statement itself

24. 24. n [often plural] a statement of the votes counted at an election or poll

25. 25. n an answer or reply

26. 26. n short for return ticket

27. 27. n [Brit] [NZ] [Spoken] a second helping of food served at a table

28. 28. n [architect] a part of a building that forms an angle with the façade

29. 29. n any part of an architectural feature that forms an angle with the main part

30. 30. n [law] 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

31. 31. n [cards] a lead of a card in the suit that one's partner has previously led

32. 32. n [ball games] the act of playing or throwing a ball back

33. 33. adj of, relating to, or characterized by a return

    a return visit

    a return performance

34. 34. adj denoting a second, reciprocated occasion

    a return match

35. 35. adj [Etymology] C14: from Old French retorner; see re-, turn