retroflex

American

[re-truh-fleks] / ˈrɛ trəˌflɛks /

Also retroflexed

adjective

bent backward; exhibiting retroflexion.
Phonetics. articulated with the tip of the tongue curled upward and back against or near the juncture of the hard and soft palates; cacuminal; cerebral; coronal.

retroflex British

/ ˈrɛtrəʊˌflɛks /

adjective

bent or curved backwards
phonetics of, relating to, or involving retroflexion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of retroflex

First recorded in 1910–15, retroflex is from the Latin word retrōflexus (past participle of retrōflectere to bend back). See retro-, flex ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In order to start the motor, one should ensure that the retroflex cam connecting rod is disengaged.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023