retrieval

[ri-tree-vuhl]

noun

1. the act of retrieving.

2. the chance of recovery or restoration.

   Sadly, many aboriginal languages have been lost beyond retrieval.

3. Psychology.,  the act or process of accessing information previously encoded and stored in memory.

   The article explores the use of picture matching tasks to assist in word retrieval in aphasic patients.

retrieval

/ rɪˈtriːvəl /

noun

1. the act or process of retrieving

2. the possibility of recovery, restoration, or rectification (esp in the phrase beyond retrieval )

3. a computer filing operation that recalls records or other data from a file

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrieval¹

First recorded in 1635–45; retrieve + -al ²

Example Sentences

Messages “about weapon retrieval and planning details,” the spokesperson stressed, “were not Discord messages, and likely took place on a phone-number based messaging platform.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ms Merritt said the retrieval of the two "terrified" ponies had been "fraught and emotional", with one taking about three hours to catch.

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She and her partner struggled to conceive and ended up going through a couple of rounds of egg retrievals in the in-vitro fertilization process.

Read more on Salon

Indeed, learning and the necessary process of memory formation and retrieval are key to the specialized roles played by concept cells and some of our other specialized neurons.

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The email sets out the "step-by-step guide to vehicle retrieval" and states the "car stacker will remain closed to all vehicles, to allow vehicle owners time to retrieve their vehicles".

Read more on BBC