RETROFLEX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does retroflex mean? 

• RETROFLEX (adjective)
  The adjective RETROFLEX has 2 senses:

1. bent or curved backward

2. pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back toward the hard palate

  Familiarity information: RETROFLEX used as an adjective is rare.

• RETROFLEX (verb)
  The verb RETROFLEX has 2 senses:

1. bend or turn backward

2. articulate (a consonant) with the tongue curled back against the palate

  Familiarity information: RETROFLEX used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RETROFLEX (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bent or curved backward

Synonyms:

retroflex; retroflexed

Similar:

backward (directed or facing toward the back or rear)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back toward the hard palate

Synonyms:

cacuminal; retroflex

Similar:

backward (directed or facing toward the back or rear)

Domain category:

linguistics (the scientific study of language)

• RETROFLEX (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they retroflex    ... he / she / it retroflexes   
Past simple: retroflexed   
Past participle: retroflexed   
-ing form: retroflexing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bend or turn backward

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

replicate; retroflex

Hypernyms (to "retroflex" is one way to...):

bend; flex (form a curve)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

retroflection; retroflexion (the act of bending backward)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Articulate (a consonant) with the tongue curled back against the palate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

Indian accents can be characterized by the fact that speakers retroflex their consonants

Hypernyms (to "retroflex" is one way to...):

articulate; enounce; enunciate; pronounce; say; sound out (speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

retroflexion (an articulatory gesture made by turning the tip of the tongue back against the roof of the mouth)