1. Cause to move more slowly or operate at a slower rate
   "This drug will retard your heart rate"
    
2. Slow the growth or development of
   "The brain damage will retard the child's language development";
   - check, delay
    
3. Lose velocity; move more slowly
   "The spacecraft retarded as it entered the atmosphere";
   - decelerate, slow, slow down, slow up
    
4. Be delayed
   "The project retarded due to unforeseen circumstances"

1. A person of subnormal intelligence
   "The term 'retard' is now considered offensive and outdated in clinical contexts";
   - idiot, imbecile [informal], moron [informal], changeling [archaic], half-wit [informal], eejit [UK, Ireland, dialect], plank [Brit, informal], thickie [Brit, informal], thicko [informal]

Derived forms: retarded, retarding, retards

See also: dolt [informal], dullard, meatball [N. Amer, informal], pillock [Brit, informal], pudden-head [US, informal], pudding head [informal], stupe [N. Amer, informal], stupid [informal], stupid person

Type of: alter, be, change, come down, decelerate, decrease, dent, diminish, exist, fall, go down, lessen, modify, simple [archaic], simpleton, sink, slow down

Encyclopedia: Retard