<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li><p>(used with object)</p><ul><li>to recover or regain: to retrieve the stray ball.</li><li>to bring back to a former and better state; restore: to retrieve one’s fortunes.</li><li>to make amends for: to retrieve an error.</li><li>to make good; repair: to retrieve a loss.</li><li>(of hunting dogs) to fetch (killed or wounded game).</li><li>to draw back or reel in (a fishing line).</li><li>to rescue; save.</li><li>(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) to make an in-bounds return of (a shot requiring running with the hand extended).</li><li>(Computers) to locate and read (data) from storage, as for display on a monitor.</li></ul></li><li><p>(used without object)</p><ul><li>(Hunting) to retrieve game.</li><li>to retrieve a fishing line.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>an act of retrieving; recovery.</li><li>the possibility of recovery.</li></ul>