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Noun: retardation  ,ree,taa(r)'dey-shun or ,ri,taa(r)'dey-shun
  1. A decrease in rate of change
    "the retardation of the arms race";
    - deceleration, slowing
     
  2. The extent to which something is delayed or held back
     
  3. Any agent that retards, delays or hinders
    "flame-retardation";
    - retardant, retardent, retarder
     
  4. Lack of normal development of intellectual capacities
    - mental retardation, backwardness, slowness, subnormality
     
  5. The act of slowing down or falling behind
    - slowdown, lag

Derived forms: retardations

Type of: agent, alteration, change, daftness [informal], delay, hold, holdup, modification, postponement, stupidity, time lag, wait

Encyclopedia: Retardation