1an act of coming or going back to a place or activity:he celebrated his safe return from the war [as modifier]:a return flight
[in singular] an act of going back to an earlier state or situation:the designer advocated a return to elegance
[mass noun] the action of returning something:the tape is ready to despatch to you on return of the documents
(in tennis and other sports) a stroke played in response to a serve or other stroke by one’s opponent.
a thing which has been given or sent back, especially an unwanted ticket for a sporting event or play:it might be worth checking with the box office for returns
(also return ticket)British a ticket which allows someone to travel to a place and back again:a return ticket to the airport
an electrical conductor bringing a current back to its source.
(also return match or game) a second contest between the same opponents:he scored his first Test try in the return at Avignon
2 (also returns) a profit from an investment:product areas are being developed to produce maximum returns
[mass noun] a good rate of return.
3an official report or statement submitted in response to a formal demand:census returns
a returning officer’s announcement of an election result:falsification of the election return
Law an endorsement or report by a court officer or sheriff on a writ.
4 [mass noun] election to office:I campaigned for the return of forty-four MPs
5 (also carriage return) a mechanism or key on a typewriter that returns the carriage to a fixed position at the start of a new line.
(also return key) a key pressed on a computer keyboard to simulate a carriage return in a word-processing program, or to indicate the end of a command or data string.
6 Architecture a part receding from the line of the front, for example the side of a house or of a window opening.
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Universal
1 [no object] come or go back to a place or person:he returned to America in the late autumn
(return to) go back to (a particular situation):I’ll be glad when things return to normal
(return to) divert one’s attention back to:he returned to his newspaper
(especially of a feeling) reoccur after a period of absence:her appetite had returned
Golf play the last nine holes in a round of eighteen holes:McAllister went out in 43 and returned in 32
2 [with object] give, put, or send (something) back to a place or person:complete the application form and return it to this address
feel, say, or do (the same feeling, action, etc.) in response:she returned his kiss
(in tennis and other sports) hit or send (the ball) back to an opponent:the aim is to make the other side unable to return the ball
American Football intercept (a pass, kick, or fumble by the opposing team) and run upfield with the ball:they had six passes intercepted—five were returned for touchdowns
(of a judge or jury) state or present (a decision or verdict) in response to a formal request:the jury returned the unanimous guilty verdict
Bridge lead (a card, especially one of a suit led earlier by one’s partner) after taking a trick:he returned a Diamond won by his partner who now played the 10 of Spades
3 [with object] yield or make (a profit):the company returned a profit of £4.3 million
4 [with object] (of an electorate) elect (a person or party) to office:the city of Glasgow returned eleven Labour MPs
5 Architecture continue (a wall) in a changed direction, especially at right angles.
by return (of post)
British in the next available mail delivery to the sender:we will send you a refund by return of post
in return
as a response, exchange, or reward for something:he left the house to his sister in return for her kindness
many happy returns (of the day)
used as a greeting to someone on their birthday.
return thanks
British express thanks, especially in a grace at a meal or in response to a toast or condolence:I rise to return thanks on behalf of my fellow guests
