return

re|turn1 [ rı`tɜrn ] verb ***

▸ 1 go/come back

▸ 2 put/send/take something back

▸ 3 do/say something similar back

▸ 4 produce profit

▸ 5 hit ball back

▸ 6 elect someone to position

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive to go back to a place where you were earlier, or to come back from a place where you have just been:

One day she just walked out and never returned.

return home: He returned home around midnight.

return to: Be careful. We want you to return to base in one piece.

return from: And when do you return from Paris?

a ) if a feeling or situation returns, it starts to happen again:

I see that the good weather has returned.

If the nausea returns, take one of these pills.

return to: Once the holidays were over, our lives returned to normal.

doubts/fears/suspicions return: All my fears returned when I realized he'd gone to see her again.

b ) to go back to a subject that has already been mentioned:

return to: I'd like to return to what David was saying earlier.

c ) to go back to an activity after an interruption:

return to: She looked up momentarily but then returned to her reading.

return to work/school: He won't be able to return to work for at least two weeks.

2. ) transitive to put, send, or take something back to the place where it came from:

She had to return the dress because it didn't fit.

return something to someone: Please complete the questionnaire and return it to the personnel department.

3. ) transitive to do or say something to someone that is similar to something that they have done or said to you:

I waved and called to her, and she returned my greeting.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to return your phone call earlier.

return the favor (=help someone because they have helped you): Thanks for helping me. I'll try to return the favor some day.

return the compliment (=say something nice to someone after they have said something nice to you): She told me I looked well and I returned the compliment, telling her she looked terrific.

return someone's fire (=shoot at someone who has shot at you): As soon as we started shooting, the enemy returned our fire.

4. ) transitive to produce a particular amount of profit on money that has been invested:

The $10,000 she invested returned a handsome profit.

5. ) intransitive or transitive to hit a ball back to your opponent in a game such as tennis:

Agassi usually returns serve very well.

6. ) transitive to elect someone to a position, especially in a legislature:

return someone to something: The voters returned her to the Senate last year.

return someone to office: It seems unlikely that the President will be returned to office.

return a verdict (of something)

to say whether someone is guilty or not guilty of a crime in a court of law:

After several hours the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

return

re|turn 2 [ rı`tɜrn ] noun ***

▸ 1 when you go/come back

▸ 2 of activity/condition

▸ 3 sending etc. something back

▸ 4 profit on money invested

▸ 5 ticket

▸ 6 results of election

▸ 7 official (tax) form

▸ 8 key on computer

▸ 9 hitting ball back

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) singular or uncount a situation in which you go back to a place or come back from a place:

return from: Harry had met Olivia shortly after his return from India.

return to: Back at the hotel, John was packing for his return to London.

on someone's return (from/to something): On her return to England, she published an account of her travels.

2. ) singular or uncount a situation in which you go back to a previous activity or condition:

return to: the country's return to democratic rule

a ) the start of a feeling or situation again:

return of: After a long winter, they eagerly awaited the return of spring.

3. ) count or uncount the action of putting, sending, or taking something back to the place where it came from:

No returns are allowed on sale merchandise.

on/upon (the) return of something: Your deposit will be refunded upon return of the bicycle.

4. ) count or uncount a profit on money that you have invested:

return of: We were able to get a return of 10% on our investment.

return on: This represents a likely return on capital of over 20% in the first year.

=> RATE OF RETURN

5. ) count BRITISH a ROUND-TRIP:

I'd like two returns to Glasgow, please.

a ) a ticket for an event that you give back because you no longer want it, so that it can be sold to someone else

6. ) returns plural the results of an election:

Early returns show that the President is in the lead.

7. ) count an official form that you must fill out, especially one involving taxes:

VAT/census returns

=> TAX RETURN

8. ) uncount a RETURN KEY:

Press Return if you wish to proceed.

9. ) count the action of hitting a ball back to an opponent in a game such as tennis:

Williams hit a wonderful return.

by return (of post) BRITISH

if you reply to a letter by return of post you write back to the person who wrote to you, immediately after you have received their letter

in return for something

as payment or in exchange for something, or as a way of thanking someone for something:

What can we do in return for your kindness?

many happy returns MAINLY BRITISH

used as a greeting that you say or write to someone on their birthday

return

re|turn 3 [ rı`tɜrn ] adjective only before noun

1. ) BRITISH ROUND-TRIP:

a return trip/ticket

a ) relating to the part of a trip that involves going back to a place or coming back from a place:

She started to feel sick on the return flight to London.

2. ) a return match, game, etc. is the second one that is played between two opponents or teams