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⇱ retrograde - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

retrograde

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈrɛtrəgreɪd/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈrɛtrəˌgreɪd/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(re′trə grād′)

Inflections of 'retrograde' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
retrogrades
v 3rd person singular
retrograding
v pres p
retrograded
v past
retrograded
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ret•ro•grade /ˈrɛtrəˌgreɪd/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. moving backward, as to an earlier condition:retrograde fashions.See -grad-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ret•ro•grade  (re′trə grād′),USA pronunciation adj., v., -grad•ed, -grad•ing. 
adj. 
  1. moving backward;
    having a backward motion or direction;
    retiring or retreating.
  2. inverse or reversed, as order.
  3. Developmental Biology, Pathology, Biology[Chiefly Biol.]exhibiting degeneration or deterioration.
  4. Astronomy
    • moving in an orbit in the direction opposite to that of the earth in its revolution around the sun.
    • appearing to move on the celestial sphere in the direction opposite to the natural order of the signs of the zodiac, or from east to west. Cf. direct (def. 25).
  5. Music and Danceproceeding from the last note to the first:a melody in retrograde motion.
  6. [Archaic.]contrary;
    opposed.

v.i. 
  1. to move or go backward;
    retire or retreat.
  2. Developmental Biology, Pathology, Biology[Chiefly Biol.]to decline to a worse condition;
    degenerate.
  3. Astronomyto have a retrograde motion.

v.t. 
  1. [Archaic.]to turn back.
  • Latin retrōgradus going back, derivative of retrōgradī, equivalent. to retrō- retro- + gradī to step, go; see grade
  • Middle English (adjective, adjectival) 1350–1400
ret′ro•grade′ly, adv. 
ret′ro•grad′ing•ly, adv. 
    1. withdrawing, receding. 2. backward. 7. withdraw, recede, retrocede.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
retrograde /ˈrɛtrəʊˌɡreɪd/ adj
  1. moving or bending backwards
  2. (esp of order) reverse or inverse
  3. tending towards an earlier worse condition; declining or deteriorating
  4. occurring or orbiting in a direction opposite to that of the earth's motion around the sun
  5. occurring or orbiting in a direction around a planet opposite to the planet's rotational direction
  6. appearing to move in a clockwise direction due to the rotational period exceeding the period of revolution around the sun: Venus has retrograde rotation
 vb (intransitive)
  1. to move in a retrograde direction; retrogress
  2. US
Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin retrōgradī to go backwards, from gradi to walk, goˌretrograˈdation n ˈretroˌgradely adv
'retrograde' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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