retrieval

American  

[ri-tree-vuhl] / rɪˈtri vəl /

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.

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retrieval British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of retrieval

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

Example Sentences

The team used a specialist retrieval system to access the airbag control module – where a snapshot of electronic data, triggered by the crash, revealed speeds, accelerator position, steering wheel angle and brake pedal application.

From BBC

On Jan. 26, Lisa went under anesthesia for the retrieval procedure, her third in five years.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some syndicates use a "sea bump" method to transport narcotics, he said, which involves dropping bundles of drugs equipped with trackers into the ocean for retrieval later.

From BBC

Once he figures out a way to navigate its deadly forests and fields, there’s a deadlier obstacle between him and his quarry: a bioweapons retrieval team deployed by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

From Salon

"We were ordered to temporarily stop the search, rescue and retrieval at 3 pm today," she said.

From Barron's