retardation

Definitions

1. 1.That which retards; an obstacle; an obstruction. Hills, sloughs, and other terrestrial retardations. Sir W. Scott.
2. 2.(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.
3. 3.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, n.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "retardation" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is retardation.

• What is that which retards; an obstacle; an obstruction. Hills, sloughs, and other terrestrial retardations. Sir W. Scott called?