return

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a coming to or returning home

   On my return from Australia, I was given a welcoming party.

2. 2
   noun

   the act of going back to a prior location

   they set out on their return to the base camp

3. 3
   noun

   a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player

   The player won the point on a cross-court return.

4. 4
   noun

   a reciprocal group action

   in return we gave them as good as we got

5. 5
   noun

   document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability

   Their gross income was enough that they had to file a return.

6. 6
   noun

   happening again (especially at regular intervals)

   the return of spring

7. 7
   noun

   the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

   the average return was about 5%

8. 8
   verb

   be restored

   After a long illness, their old vigor slowly returned.

Etymology

From Middle English returnen, retornen, from Anglo-Norman returner, from Old French retourner, retorner, from Medieval Latin retornare (“to turn back”), from re- + tornare (“to turn”). By surface analysis, re- + turn. Compare beturn.