Return vs. Back

Returnverb

(intransitive) To come or go back (to a place or person).

Returnverb

(intransitive) To go back in thought, narration, or argument.

Returnverb

To turn back, retreat.

Returnverb

To turn (something) round.

Returnverb

(transitive) To place or put back something where it had been.

Returnverb

(transitive) To give something back to its original holder or owner.

Returnverb

(transitive) To take back something to a vendor for a refund.

Returnverb

To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

Returnverb

(tennis) To bat the ball back over the net in response to a serve.

Returnverb

(card games) To play a card as a result of another player's lead.

Returnverb

(cricket) To throw a ball back to the wicket-keeper (or a fielder at that position) from somewhere in the field.

Returnverb

(transitive) To say in reply; to respond.

Returnverb

To relinquish control to the calling procedure.

Returnverb

To pass (data) back to the calling procedure.

Returnverb

To retort; to throw back.

Returnverb

(transitive) To report, or bring back and make known.

Returnverb

To elect according to the official report of the election officers.

Returnnoun

The act of returning.

Returnnoun

A return ticket.

Returnnoun

An item that is returned, e.g. due to a defect, or the act of returning it.

Returnnoun

An answer.

Returnnoun

An account, or formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts or statistics, etc.; especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information.

Returnnoun

Gain or loss from an investment.

Returnnoun

: A report of income submitted to a government for purposes of specifying exact tax payment amounts. A tax return.

Returnnoun

(computing) A carriage return character.

Returnnoun

(computing) The act of relinquishing control to the calling procedure.

Returnnoun

(computing) A return value: the data passed back from a called procedure.

Returnnoun

A return valve.

Returnnoun

A short perpendicular extension of a desk, usually slightly lower.

Returnnoun

(American football) Catching a ball after a punt and running it back towards the opposing team.

Returnnoun

(cricket) A throw from a fielder to the wicket-keeper or to another fielder at the wicket.

Returnnoun

(architecture) The continuation in a different direction, most often at a right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, such as a moulding; applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the longer.

Returnverb

To turn back; to go or come again to the same place or condition.

Returnverb

To come back, or begin again, after an interval, regular or irregular; to appear again.

Returnverb

To speak in answer; to reply; to respond.

Returnverb

To revert; to pass back into possession.

Returnverb

To go back in thought, narration, or argument.

Returnverb

To bring, carry, send, or turn, back; as, to return a borrowed book, or a hired horse.

Returnverb

To repay; as, to return borrowed money.

Returnverb

To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

Returnverb

To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return thanks.

Returnverb

To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie.

Returnverb

To report, or bring back and make known.

Returnverb

To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially by a list or statement; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to return the result of an election.

Returnverb

Hence, to elect according to the official report of the election officers.

Returnverb

To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ.

Returnverb

To convey into official custody, or to a general depository.

Returnverb

To bat (the ball) back over the net.

Returnverb

To lead in response to the lead of one's partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a club.

Returnnoun

The act of returning (intransitive), or coming back to the same place or condition; as, the return of one long absent; the return of health; the return of the seasons, or of an anniversary.

Returnnoun

The act of returning (transitive), or sending back to the same place or condition; restitution; repayment; requital; retribution; as, the return of anything borrowed, as a book or money; a good return in tennis.

Returnnoun

That which is returned.

Returnnoun

An answer; as, a return to one's question.

Returnnoun

The continuation in a different direction, most often at a right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, as a molding or mold; - applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the longer; thus, a facade of sixty feet east and west has a return of twenty feet north and south.

Returnnoun

The rendering back or delivery of writ, precept, or execution, to the proper officer or court.

Returnnoun

An official account, report, or statement, rendered to the commander or other superior officer; as, the return of men fit for duty; the return of the number of the sick; the return of provisions, etc.

Returnnoun

The turnings and windings of a trench or mine.

Returnnoun

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

Returnnoun

a coming to or returning home;

Returnnoun

the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction

Returnnoun

getting something back again;

Returnnoun

the act of returning to a prior location;

Returnnoun

the income arising from land or other property;

Returnnoun

happening again (especially at regular intervals);

Returnnoun

a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one);

Returnnoun

the key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed

Returnnoun

a reciprocal group action;

Returnnoun

a tennis stroke that returns the ball to the other player;

Returnnoun

(American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble

Returnnoun

the act of someone appearing again;

Returnverb

come back to place where one has been before, or return to a previous activity

Returnverb

give back;

Returnverb

go back to a previous state;

Returnverb

go back to something earlier;

Returnverb

bring back to the point of departure

Returnverb

return in kind;

Returnverb

make a return;

Returnverb

answer back

Returnverb

be restored;

Returnverb

pay back;

Returnverb

pass down;

Returnverb

elect again

Returnverb

be inherited by;

Returnverb

return to a previous position; in mathematics;

Returnverb

give or supply;

Returnverb

submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority;

Backadjective

(not comparable) Near the rear.

Backadjective

(not comparable) Not current.

Backadjective

(not comparable) Far from the main area.

Backadjective

(not comparable) In arrear; overdue.

Backadjective

(not comparable) Moving or operating backward.

Backadjective

Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).

Backadverb

(not comparable) To or in a previous condition or place.

Backadverb

Away from the front or from an edge.

Backadverb

In a manner that impedes.

Backadverb

(not comparable) In a reciprocal manner; in return.

Backadverb

Earlier, ago.

Backnoun

The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.

Backnoun

The spine and associated tissues.

Backnoun

Large and attractive buttocks.

Backnoun

(figurative) The part of a piece of clothing which covers the back.

Backnoun

The backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back.

Backnoun

(obsolete) That part of the body that bears clothing. (Now used only in the phrase clothes on one's back.)

Backnoun

That which is farthest away from the front.

Backnoun

The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.

Backnoun

The reverse side; the side that is not normally seen.

Backnoun

Area behind, such as the backyard of a house.

Backnoun

The part of something that goes last.

Backnoun

(sports) In some team sports, a position behind most players on the team.

Backnoun

(figuratively) Upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal's back.

Backnoun

A support or resource in reserve.

Backnoun

(nautical) The keel and keelson of a ship.

Backnoun

(mining) The roof of a horizontal underground passage.

Backnoun

Effort, usually physical.

Backnoun

A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.

Backnoun

Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.

Backnoun

A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.

Backnoun

A ferryboat.

Backverb

(intransitive) To go in the reverse direction.

Backverb

(transitive) To support.

Backverb

To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

Backverb

To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.

Backverb

To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.

Backverb

To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.

Backverb

(transitive) To push or force backwards.

Backverb

To get upon the back of; to mount.

Backverb

To place or seat upon the back.

Backverb

To make a back for; to furnish with a back.

Backverb

To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.

Backverb

To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.

Backverb

To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).

Backverb

To row backward with (oars).

Backnoun

A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.

Backnoun

A ferryboat. See Bac, 1.

Backnoun

In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish, or lobster.

Backnoun

An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.

Backnoun

The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.

Backnoun

The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.

Backnoun

The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.

Backnoun

The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.

Backnoun

A support or resource in reserve.

Backnoun

The keel and keelson of a ship.

Backnoun

The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.

Backnoun

A garment for the back; hence, clothing.

Backadjective

Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.

Backadjective

Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.

Backadjective

Moving or operating backward; as, back action.

Backverb

To get upon the back of; to mount.

Backverb

To place or seat upon the back.

Backverb

To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.

Backverb

To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.

Backverb

To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.

Backverb

To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.

Backverb

To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend.

Backverb

To bet on the success of; - as, to back a race horse.

Backverb

To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.

Backverb

To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; - used of the wind.

Backverb

To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; - said of a dog.

Backadverb

In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.

Backadverb

To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it.

Backadverb

To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.

Backadverb

Of time) In times past; ago.

Backadverb

Away from contact; by reverse movement.

Backadverb

In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.

Backadverb

In a state of restraint or hindrance.

Backadverb

In return, repayment, or requital.

Backadverb

In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back the offensive words.

Backadverb

In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent.

Backnoun

the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine;

Backnoun

the side that goes last or is not normally seen;

Backnoun

the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer;

Backnoun

(football) a person who plays in the backfield

Backnoun

the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord;

Backnoun

the front and back covering of a book;

Backnoun

the part of a garment that covers your back;

Backnoun

a support that you can lean against while sitting;

Backnoun

the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage

Backverb

be behind; approve of;

Backverb

travel backward;

Backverb

give support or one's approval to;

Backverb

cause to travel backward;

Backverb

support financial backing for;

Backverb

be in back of;

Backverb

place a bet on;

Backverb

shift to a counterclockwise direction;

Backverb

establish as valid or genuine;

Backverb

strengthen by providing with a back or backing

Backadjective

related to or located at the back;

Backadjective

located at or near the back of an animal;

Backadjective

of an earlier date;

Backadverb

in or to or toward a former location;

Backadverb

at or to or toward the back or rear;

Backadverb

in or to or toward an original condition;

Backadverb

in or to or toward a past time;

Backadverb

in answer;

Backadverb

in repayment or retaliation;