Definition of Retroflex

1. Verb. Bend or turn backward.

Exact synonyms: Replicate
Generic synonyms: Bend, Flex
Derivative terms: Retroflection, Retroflexion

2. Adjective. Bent or curved backward.
Exact synonyms: Retroflexed
Similar to: Backward

3. Verb. Articulate (a consonant) with the tongue curled back against the palate. "Indian accents can be characterized by the fact that speakers retroflex their consonants"
Generic synonyms: Articulate, Enounce, Enunciate, Pronounce, Say, Sound Out
Derivative terms: Retroflexion

4. Adjective. Pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back toward the hard palate.
Exact synonyms: Cacuminal
Category relationships: Linguistics
Similar to: Backward

Definition of Retroflex

1. a. Reflexed; bent or turned abruptly backward.

Definition of Retroflex

1. Adjective. Bent or curved backwards. ¹

2. Adjective. (phonetics): Of pronunciation in which the tip of the tongue is raised and bent backwards, so that the underside of the tongue is behind the alveolar ridge or touches the palate. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Retroflex

1. [n -ES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Retroflex

retrofiring
retrofit
retrofits
retrofitted
retrofitter
retrofitters
retrofitting
retroflect
retroflected
retroflecting
retroflection
retroflections
retroflector
retroflectors
retroflects
retroflex (current term)
retroflex fasciculus
retroflexed
retroflexes
retroflexion
retroflexions
retrofracted
retrofuturism
retrofuturistic
retrogamer
retrogamers
retrogaming
retrogene

Literary usage of Retroflex

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Journal of the American Chemical Society by American Chemical Society (1915)
"This is true even on the retroflex portions of the curves, although, as can be seen from the diagram, the concentration in grams of anhydrous salt per 100 ..."

2. Toda Grammar and Texts by Murray Barnson Emeneau (1984)
"... post- dental r voiceless stops, alveolar and retroflex U Í t voiced stops ... alveolar and retroflex dddd voiceless stop, retro- flex t voiced stop, ..."

3. Toda Grammar and Texts by Murray Barnson Emeneau (1984)
"Dental, alveolar, and retroflex stops are articulated as follows:1 dental—the ... Of the nasals, n is retroflex with the same type of articulation as the ..."

4. Calcutta Review by University of Calcutta (1844)
"... palatal before the front vowels and the former before all other vowels and the retroflex stop d in the non-initial position is retained as the retroflex ..."

5. A Complete pronouncing medical dictionary by Joseph Thomas (1885)
"retroflex'io (ret-ro-flek'she-o) U'ter-i.* A bending back of the womb ... retroflex'io, o'nis; see retroflexED.] A bending backward. Ret'ro-grade. [Lat. ..."

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