RETROGRADE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does retrograde mean? 

• RETROGRADE (adjective)
  The adjective RETROGRADE has 4 senses:

1. moving from east to west on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in a direction opposite to that of the Earth

2. of amnesia; affecting time immediately preceding trauma

3. going from better to worse

4. moving or directed or tending in a backward direction or contrary to a previous direction

  Familiarity information: RETROGRADE used as an adjective is uncommon.

• RETROGRADE (verb)
  The verb RETROGRADE has 5 senses:

1. move backward in an orbit, of celestial bodies

2. move in a direction contrary to the usual one

3. move back

4. go back over

5. get worse or fall back to a previous condition

  Familiarity information: RETROGRADE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RETROGRADE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Moving from east to west on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in a direction opposite to that of the Earth

Domain category:

astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)

Antonym:

direct (moving from west to east on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in the same direction as the Earth)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of amnesia; affecting time immediately preceding trauma

Attribute:

temporal relation (a relation involving time)

Antonym:

anterograde (of amnesia; affecting time immediately following trauma)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Going from better to worse

Synonyms:

retrograde; retrogressive

Similar:

regressive (opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Moving or directed or tending in a backward direction or contrary to a previous direction

Synonyms:

retral; retrograde

Similar:

backward (directed or facing toward the back or rear)

• RETROGRADE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they retrograde    ... he / she / it retrogrades   
Past simple: retrograded   
Past participle: retrograded   
-ing form: retrograding   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move backward in an orbit, of celestial bodies

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "retrograde" is one way to...):

orb; orbit; revolve (move in an orbit)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move in a direction contrary to the usual one

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

retrograding planets

Hypernyms (to "retrograde" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move back

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

retreat; retrograde

Context example:

The glacier retrogrades

Hypernyms (to "retrograde" is one way to...):

draw back; move back; pull away; pull back; recede; retire; retreat; withdraw (pull back or move away or backward)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Go back over

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

hash over; rehash; retrograde

Context example:

retrograde arguments

Hypernyms (to "retrograde" is one way to...):

recap; recapitulate (summarize briefly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Get worse or fall back to a previous condition

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

regress; retrograde; retrogress

Hypernyms (to "retrograde" is one way to...):

decline; worsen (grow worse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "retrograde"):

drop off; fall back; fall behind; recede (retreat)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

A device consisting of flexible biocompatible membranes, implantable in the cardio-vascular system, designed to prevent retrograde flow of blood but not impede a forward flow.

(Cusp Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

Mercury goes retrograde three times a year for three weeks, always in a different sign.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Another pathway activated by retrograde neurotrophin signaling though Erk5 is PI3 Kinase.

(Neuronal Survival Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

During orthodromic tachycardia the preexcitation is not present and a retrograde P wave may appear after the QRS complex.

(Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia by ECG Finding, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

It is characterized by retrograde P waves which may be obscured by or may follow the QRS complexes.

(Junctional Rhythm by ECG Finding, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

This protein is involved in intra-Golgi retrograde transport.

(Golgin Subfamily A Member 5, NCI Thesaurus)

Evidence of mild retrograde blood flow through the valve(s) of the heart.

(Mild Cardiac Valve Regurgitation, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

Evidence of moderate retrograde blood flow through the valve(s) of the heart.

(Moderate Cardiac Valve Regurgitation, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

No evidence of any retrograde blood flow through the valve(s) in the heart.

(No Cardiac Valve Regurgitation, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

A disorder involving memory impairment (either anterograde or retrograde) that is etiologically linked to the direct physiological consequence of a general medical condition.

(Amnestic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition, NCI Thesaurus)