retardation
pronunciation
How to pronounce retardation in British English:
UK [ˌri:tɑ:'deɪʃn]
How to pronounce retardation in American English:
US [ˌritɑrˈdeʃən]
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- Noun:
- a decrease in speed
- the extent to which something is delayed or held back
- any agent that retards or delays or hinders
- lack of normal development of intellectual capacities
- the act of slowing down or falling behind
Word Origin
- retardation (n.)
- early 15c., "fact or action of making slower in movement or time," from Latin retardationem (nominative retardatio) "a delaying," noun of action from past participle stem of retardare "to make slow, delay, keep back, hinder," from re- (see re-), + tardare "to slow," related to tardus "slow, sluggish" (see tardy). Sense of "educational slowness" is from 1907.
Antonym
Example
- 1. Studies show that iodine deficiency is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation .
- 2. Unlike people with classic autism , which is often accompanied by mental retardation , those with asperger 's have normal language development and intelligence .
- 3. Autism encompasses a wide spectrum of disorders , ranging from profound inability to communicate and mental retardation to relatively mild symptoms , as in asperger 's syndrome .
- 4. Preference objects as treatment for hand mouthing in a child with mental retardation .
- 5. Someone with a very funny retardation .