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[+obj(i)+obj(d)] Don't forget to return me my keys. | We returned the empty bottles to the shop. 3 [T] to give or do in exchange; REPAY: She wondered whether he would return the/her visit. (=go to see her after she had been to see him) | He told her she was very clever and she returned the compliment. (=said something nice about him in return) 4 [T(to)] to elect to a political position: At the general election she was returned (to Parliament) with an increased majority. 5 [T] (of a JURY) to give (a VERDICT): They returned a verdict of 'Not Guilty'. 6 [T] to produce as a profit; YIELD: These shares return a good rate of interest. 7 [T] fml to give an official account of, especially in answer to a demand: He returned his earnings as £9000 on the tax declaration. 8 return to work (of a woman) to go back to work after having children and looking after them for a few years: She's thinking of returning to work.
return² n 1 [C;U(from, to)] the act or an example of returning (RETURN): We look forward to your return (from China). | On his return (=when he came back) he found her asleep. | Keep some food to eat on the return journey. | This cold weather has brought a return of the flu epidemic. | The army has promised a return to civilian rule within two years. 2 [U] the act of giving, putting, or sending something back: The library is demanding the return of the books. | The spectators cheered the tennis champion's return of service. | After the game the players arranged a return match. (=to play each other again) 3 also returns pl. — [C] an amount of money produced as a profit: These shares have brought in good returns. | We guarantee a high return on your investment. 4 [C] an official account, especially of money earned or spent: Make sure you put in all your earnings on your tax return. 5 [C] BrE a RETURN ticket 6 by return (of post) especially BrE by the next post: Please let us know your answer by return. 7 in return (for) in exchange or as payment (for): He agreed to give evidence against the terrorists in return for a guarantee of protection. | They are letting us use their computer, and in return we are giving them the results of our research. 8 many happy returns (of the day) (used as a birthday greeting)
return³ BrE || round-trip AmE — adj (of a ticket or its cost) for a trip from one place to another and back again: The price is £1 single and £1.80 return. → compare SINGLE; see also DAY RETURN
re-turn-able /rɪˈtɜːnəbəl||-ɜːr-/ adj 1 that can be given or sent back, often to be used again: returnable bottles → opposite NONRETURNABLE 2 fml that must be given or sent back: The writ is returnable immediately.
re-tur-nee /ˌrɪˌtɜːniː||-ˌtɜːr-/ n a person who returns to their own country after living in another country
re-turn-er /rɪˈtɜːnər||-ɜːr-/ n BrE a person who goes back to work after a long time away, especially a woman who returns to a job after spending time at home with her children: government plans to help returners
re-turn-ing officer n (in Britain) the official in each town or area who arranges an election to Parliament and gives out the result
Reu-ben sand-wich /ˈruːbən ˌsænwɪdʒ||-ˌsændwɪtʃ, -ˌsænwɪtʃ/ n a type of SANDWICH that is popular in the US, made of SALT BEEF, SWISS CHEESE, and SAUERKRAUT
re-u-ni-fy /riˈjuːnɪfaɪ/ v [T] to join the parts of (e.g. a divided country) again → compare REUNITE —reunification /ˌriːjuːnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ n [U] the reunification of Germany
re-u-nion /riːˈjuːnjən/ n 1 [C] a meeting of friends or fellow-workers after a separation: We hold an annual reunion of former students of the college. 2 [U] the state of being brought together again
re-u-nite /ˌriːjuːˈnaɪt/ v [I;T(with)] to (cause to) come or join together again: Do you think the two parts of Ireland will ever reunite? | After the hijacking, the hostages were reunited with their families.
re-up-hol-ster /ˌriːʌpˈhəʊlstər/ v [T] to replace the coverings and fillings of (a seat): I'd like to have that chair reupholstered.
re-use /ˌriːˈjuːz/ v [T] 1 to use again 2 to RECYCLE —reusable adj
Reu-ters /ˈrɔɪtəz||-ərz/ trademark a British company which employs JOURNALISTS in many different countries to send it news from all over the world so that it can sell these reports to many different newspapers and radio and television stations
rev¹ /rev/ n [usually pl.] infml abbrev. for REVOLUTION: The engine is on low revs. (=is turning slowly)
rev² v -vv- infml 1 [T(UP)] to increase the speed of (an engine): Don't rev (up) your engine so loudly – you'll wake the baby. | (fig.) We need to rev up production if we're going to reach our target for this year. 2 [I(UP)] (of an engine) to increase speed: We could hear a car revving (up) in the driveway.
Rev also Revd BrE written abbrev. for Reverend; a title used before the name of a minister of the Christian church: the Rev D Macleod
re-val-ue /ˌriːˈvæljuː/ v [T] 1 to find out or state the latest or real value of; make a new VALUATION of: We're having all the contents of our house revalued for insurance purposes. 2 to increase the exchange value of (a country's money): The dollar is being revalued. → compare DEVALUE —uation /ˌriːˌvæljuˈeɪʃən/ n [C;U]
re-vamp /ˌriːˈvæmp/ v [T] infml to give a new (and better) form or structure to (something old): a radical plan to revamp the whole system of secondary education
re-veal /rɪˈviːl/ v [T] 1 to show or allow (something previously hidden) to be seen: The curtains opened, to reveal a darkened stage. 2 to make known (something previously secret or unknown): Do you promise not to reveal my secret? | The investigation has revealed some serious faults in the system. | [+that] I can now reveal that the new director is to be James Johnson.
re-veal-ing /rɪˈviːlɪŋ/ adj 1 allowing parts to be seen which are usually kept covered: a very revealing dress 2 giving some especially interesting or unexpected information which had been unknown: She made some very revealing comments when I had a private chat with her.
re-veil-le /rɪˈvæli||rəˈveɪli/ n [(the) S] music played as a signal to waken soldiers in the morning: When (the) reveille sounds/is sounded, we all leap out of bed.
rev-el /ˈrevəl/ v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE [I] old use or humor to pass the time in dancing, eating, drinking etc especially wildly at a party or celebration: They were revelling all night. —ller BrE || -ler AmE n We were kept awake by crowds of noisy revellers.
revel in sthg. phr v [T] to enjoy greatly; get pleasure from (especially something unpleasant or something that most other people do not enjoy): to revel in scandal | She revels in all the attention she gets from the media. | [+v-ing] He seems to revel in inflicting pain.
rev-e-la-tion /ˌrevəleɪʃən/ n 1 [U] the making known of something secret: The revelation of his scandalous past led to his resignation. 2 [C] an often surprising fact that is made known, especially one that explains or makes something clear: Have you read the ex-minister's amazing revelations in the newspaper? | [+that] The revelation that he was her father astonished her. 3 [C;U] (an example of) the making known of the truth by God
Rev-e-la-tions /ˌrevəˈleɪʃənz/ the last book of the New Testament of the Bible, in which the story of the end of the world is told. It is thought to have been written by Saint JOHN and is sometimes also called The Book of Revelation or The Apocalypse, → see also FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE, THE
rev-el-ry /ˈrevəlrɪ/ also revelries pl. — n [U] wild noisy dancing, eating, drinking etc; revelling
re-venge¹ /rɪˈvendʒ/ n [U(for, on)] punishment given to someone in return for harm done to oneself: We bombed their cities in revenge for their attacks on ours. | We took revenge on them by bombing their cities. | a revenge attack | After I'd beaten him at chess I gave him a chance to get his revenge. (=by beating me) —ful adj
revenge² v [T] 1 to do something in revenge for (harm done to someone, especially to oneself): to revenge a defeat/an injustice 2 revenge oneself on to take revenge on (a person or group)
rev-e-nue /ˈrevənjuː||-nuː/ also revenues pl. — n [U] income, especially that which the government receives as tax: The government was short of money because of falling oil revenues. → see also INLAND REVENUE, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE