verb
-turns; -turned; -turning
[no obj] :to come or go to a place again :to come back or go back again
[+ obj] to bring, give, send, or take (something) to the place that it came from or the place where it should go
to bring or send (something that you bought) to the place that it came from because it does not work or fit properly, because it is damaged, etc.
to bring (empty bottles or cans) to a place that collects them so that they can be used again
[no obj] :to happen or exist again
[+ obj] :to respond to (something) in the same way
[+ obj] formal :to make an official report of (a decision or order)
[+ obj] tennis :to hit back (a ball that was hit to you)
[+ obj] American football :to run with the ball after getting it because of a kick, fumble, etc.
[+ obj] Brit :to elect (someone) to office - usually used as (be) returned
[+ obj] finance :to produce or earn (something, such as a profit or loss)
return to
[phrasal verb]
return to (something)
to go to (a place where you work, study, etc.) again after being away for a time
to start doing or using (something) again especially after a long time
to start an activity again that relates to (something)
to change back to (an earlier or original condition or state)
noun
plural -turns
[singular] :the act of coming or going back to the place you started from or to a place where you were before
[singular] :the act of going back to an activity, job, situation, etc. :the act of starting to do something again after stopping
[singular] the fact that something (such as a condition, feeling, or situation) happens again - + of
the fact that someone or something changes to a condition or state that existed before
[singular] :the act of taking someone or something back to the proper place - + of
[count] :something that is brought or sent back to a store or business because it does not work or fit properly, is damaged, is not needed, etc.
b returns [plural] chiefly US :empty cans or bottles that are brought back to a store so that they can be used again
finance :the profit from an investment or business [count]
returns [plural] :a report of the results of voting
[count] :a report that you send to the government about the money that you have earned and the taxes that you have paid in one year
[count] sports :the act of returning a ball
[count] Brit :a ticket for a trip that takes you to a place and back to the place you started from :a round-trip ticket
by return
or by return of post
Brit :immediately by mail
happy returns
old fashioned - used for wishing someone a happy birthday and to express the hope that he or she will live to celebrate many more birthdays in the future
in return
in payment or exchange
adjective
always used before a noun
used in or taken for returning to a place
happening or done for the second time
chiefly Brit :used or paying for a trip that takes you to a place and back to the place you started from