retrorse

American

[ri-trawrs, ree-trawrs] / rɪˈtrɔrs, ˈri trɔrs /

adjective

turned backward.

retrorse British

/ rɪˈtrɔːs /

adjective

(esp of plant parts) pointing backwards or in a direction opposite to normal

"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

Other Word Forms

retrorsely adverb

Etymology

Origin of retrorse

1815–25; < Latin retrōrsus, contracted form of retrōversus bent backward, equivalent to retrō- retro- + versus (past participle of vertere to turn); retroversion

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.

Forms occur with the barbs of the awns spreading or retrorse, hybrids with Bidens frondosa or other species.

From Project Gutenberg

Stem villous with retrorse hairs; leaflets usually longer than 5 cm.

From Project Gutenberg

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