Retard is an offensive and insulting slang word used to refer to someone with mental challenges.
(noun)A person with a very low IQ who suffers from a number of mental disabilities is an example of someone who might be described as a retard by those who are vulgar and not politically correct.
To retard is to prevent progress or growth.
(verb)When you starve a plant in order to prevent it from growing and thriving, this is an example of a time when you retard the growth of the plant.
See retard in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
Origin: LME retarden < OFr retarder < L retardare < re-, back + tardare, to make slow < tardus, slow: see tardy
intransitive verb
noun
See retard in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb re·tard·ed, re·tard·ing, re·tards verb, transitive
Origin:
Origin: Middle English retarden
Origin: , from Old French retarder
Origin: , from Latin retardāre
Origin: : re-, re-
Origin: + tardāre, to delay (from tardus, slow)
.Related Forms:
noun
Origin:
Origin: Short for retarded
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