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Webster 1913 Edition


Retardation

Reˊtar-da′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
retardatio
: cf. F.
retardation
.]
1.
The act of retarding; hindrance; the act of delaying;
as, the
retardation
of the motion of a ship
; – opposed to
acceleration
.
The
retardations
of our fluent motion.
De Quinsey.
2.
That which retards; an obstacle; an obstruction.
Hills, sloughs, and other terrestrial
retardations
.
Sir W. Scott.
3.
(Mus.)
The keeping back of an approaching consonant chord by prolonging one or more tones of a previous chord into the intermediate chord which follows; – differing from suspension by resolving upwards instead of downwards.
4.
The extent to which anything is retarded; the amount of retarding or delay.
Retardation of the tide
.
(a)
The lunitidal interval, or the hour angle of the moon at the time of high tide any port; the interval between the transit of the moon and the time of high tide next following
.
(b)
The age of the tide; the retard of the tide. See under
Retard
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Retardation

RETARDA'TION

,
Noun.
The act of abating the velocity of motion; hinderance; the act of delaying; as the retardation of the motion of a ship; the retardation of hoary hairs.