French–English dictionary

rétrograde

One who opposes social reform, favouring the maintenance of the status quo; a conservative.

rétrograder

(transitive) To lower the rank or status of.

rétrogression

A deterioration or decline to a previous state.

rétropédaler

(intransitive) To pedal backwards on a bicycle.

rétrospectif

Of, relating to, or contemplating the past.

rétrospection

Consideration of past times.

retrouver

(intransitive, sciences) To be present or found.

rétrovirus

(virology) Any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell, thus changing the genome of that cell.

retyper

(nautical) To bring the bows of a sailing ship on to the required tack just as the anchor is weighed by use of the headsail; to bring (a ship) round. [from 18th c.]

réunification

The unification of something that was previously divided; used especially of a country.

réunifier

(ambitransitive, reciprocal) To unite again.

Réunion

An island, overseas department, and administrative region of France, located in the Indian Ocean to the west of Mauritius and to the east of Madagascar.

réunir

(ergative) To gather as a group.

réusage

The act of salvaging or in some manner restoring a discarded item to yield something usable.

réussir

(intransitive) To obtain a level of success or fame; to succeed.

réussir un aigle

(golf) To score an eagle.

réussissable

Capable of being achieved, which either means possible or probable.

réussissant

Characterized by success.

réussite

The achievement of one's aim or goal. [from 16th c.]

réutilisable

Able to be used again; especially after salvaging or special treatment or processing

réutilisation

The act of salvaging or in some manner restoring a discarded item to yield something usable.

réutiliser

(transitive, figurative) To reuse as a whole.

REV

A road network in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for bicycles

revanche

A repeated contest staged between the same opponents or teams which played a previous contest.

revanchisme

The political policy of endeavouring to regain lost territory.

revanchiste

Seeking revenge or otherwise advocating retaliation, especially against a nation which has previously defeated and humiliated the revanchist party in war. Originally referred to the French indignation over losing Alsace-Lorraine to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War.

rêvasser

(intransitive) To have such a series of thoughts; to woolgather.

rêvasseur

One who daydreams.

rêvasseuse

One who daydreams.

rêve

(countable) Imaginary events seen in the mind while sleeping.

revêche

Of or pertaining to bad temper; showing anger easily or customarily.

réveil

A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention.

réveillé

Not asleep; conscious.

réveille-matin

A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention.

réveiller

(transitive) To cause (somebody) to stop sleeping.

révélateur

A film developer; a person who uses chemicals to create photographs from photograph negatives.

Révélation

(biblical) The final book of the New Testament of the Bible.

révélations

A publication of investigative journalism that reveals hidden and often scandalous truths.

révélatrice

Revealing something, especially something not intended to be known.

révéler

(transitive, ergative) To disclose or make known an item of news, a band, etc.

revenant

A disembodied soul; a soul or spirit of a deceased person; a spirit appearing after death.

revenante

Someone who returns from a long absence.

revendeur

A company or individual that purchases goods or services with the intention of reselling them rather than consuming or using them.

revendication

A demand of ownership for previously unowned land.

revendiquer

(transitive) To maintain or defend (a cause) against opposition.

revendre

To sell again.

revenir

(transitive) To shirk responsibility; to renege on one's obligations or commitments.

revenir sur ses pas

To retrace one's steps.

revente

Sale of something previously bought.

revenu

Money one earns by working or by capitalising on the work of others.

revenu brut

Income generated before deducting expenses, taxes, insurance, etc.

revenus

Wages, money earned, income.

rêver

(intransitive) To have such a series of thoughts; to woolgather.

réverbère

The pole that holds up a light so it can illuminate a wide area, such as holds up a streetlight.

réverbérer

To throw back; to reflect; to reverberate.

révérence

A feeling of fear and reverence.

Révérend

(Christianity) A title indicating respect, prefixed to the names of Christian clergy.

révérer

(transitive) To regard someone or something with great awe or devotion.

rêverie

(idiomatic) A form of thinking that is not grounded or in touch with the realities of the present, and can thus benefit from creative imagination.

revers

The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.

reversement

An act of reversal.

revêtement

(construction) A weatherproof, insulating or decorative covering fixed to the outside of a building.

revêtir

(transitive) To cover with a coating of some material.

revêtir, métalliser

(physics, transitive) To coat the surface of an object by sputtering.

revêtu

(of an object, often in compounds) Covered, enveloped in, or surrounded by a cladding, or a specified material or substance.

rêveur

One who daydreams.

rêveuse

One who daydreams.

revigorer

(informal, transitive) To inject with energy and enthusiasm.

revirement

(figuratively) A reversal of policy or opinion.

réviser

(transitive, rare) To revise or make corrections to a publication.

réviseur

Someone who corrects printed material (copy) and prepares it for typesetting, printing, or online publishing.

révision

A major repair, renovation, or revision.

révisionniste

Of or pertaining to revisionism.

revivaliste

(US) Evangelistic.

revivre

(obsolete, transitive) To bring back to life; to revive, resuscitate. [16th–17th c.]

révocation

An act or instance of revoking.

revoir

(transitive) To see again or anew.

révolte

An organized rebellion against a legally constituted authority, especially by seamen against their officers.

révolter

To cause to turn back; to roll or drive back; to put to flight.

révolution

(countable, politics) The popular removal and replacement of a government, especially by sudden violent action.

révolutionnaire

Innovative; new, different; doing something that has never been done before.

révolutionner

(transitive) To radically or significantly change, as in a revolution. [1799]

revolver

(firearms) A handgun with a revolving chamber enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.

révoquer

(transitive) To cancel or invalidate by withdrawing or reversing.

revue

Any collection of articles, as an Internet mailing list including a week's postings, or a magazine arranging a collection of writings.

revue de presse

A meeting to share a concise summary of a current situation, especially in close preparation for an operation or undertaking.

Rex

A stereotypical en given name.

rhénan

Pertaining to the Rhine river or region. [from 15th c.]

rhénium

A metallic chemical element (symbol Re) with an atomic number of 75: a heavy, silvery-gray transition metal.

rhétorique

(archaic) Relating to, or used in, debate or argument.

Rhin

A major river in western Europe, which flows through Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France and the Netherlands, before emptying into the North Sea.

rhino

(colloquial) A rhinoceros. [from 19th c.]

rhino-

Of the nose.

rhinocéros

Any large herbivorous ungulate mammal native to Africa and Asia of the family Rhinocerotidae, with thick, gray skin and one or two horns on their snouts.

rhô

The seventeenth letter of the Modern Greek and Classical alphabets and the nineteenth letter of Old and Ancient.

Rhodé

(Greek god) In Greek mythology, the oldest Oceanid, a daughter of Tethys and Oceanus

Rhodes

A city on the island of Rhodes, Greece, and the capital of the Dodecanese.

Rhodésie

(historical) A historical region of Southern Africa, the area now occupied by Zimbabwe and Zambia. [used from 1895 to 1964]

rhodochrosite

(mineral) A crystalline mineral composed mainly of manganese carbonate MnCO3.

rhombus

(shapes, heraldiccharge) A thin rhombus, having two acute and two obtuse angles.

rhubarbe

Any plant of the genus Rheum, especially Rheum rhabarbarum, having large leaves and long green or reddish acidic leafstalks that are edible, in particular when cooked (although the leaves are mildly poisonous).

rhum

(uncountable) A distilled spirit derived from fermented cane sugar and molasses.

rhumatismal

Resembling or relating to rheumatism.

rhumatisme

(pathology) Any disorder of the muscles, tendons, joints, bones, nerves, characterized by pain, discomfort and disability.

rhumatoïde

(medicine, dated) Presenting analogies with rheumatism.

rhumatologie

(medicine) The branch of medicine specializing in arthritis and other ailments of the joints.

rhumatologue

A doctor specializing in the treatment of arthritis and other ailments of the joints.

rhume

(countable, pathology) A common, usually harmless, usually viral illness, usually with congestion of the nasal passages and sometimes fever.

ria

(geography) A narrow inlet of the sea formed by a flooded unglaciated river valley. [from 19th c.]

ribambelle

A large collection.

ricain

(US) A Yankee, a Northerner: someone from the Northern United States, especially from New England.

ricaine

(US) A Yankee, a Northerner: someone from the Northern United States, especially from New England.

ricaines

(US) A Yankee, a Northerner: someone from the Northern United States, especially from New England.

ricains

(US) A Yankee, a Northerner: someone from the Northern United States, especially from New England.

ricanement

A laugh resembling the cry of a hen or goose.

ricaner

To laugh quietly or inwardly.

ricanerie

A quiet laugh.

Richard

(rare, _, compared to given name) A surname originating as a patronymic.

riche

(by extension) Abounding in goods or riches; having a moderate level of material wealth.

richesse

(uncountable) The state or quality of being rich; wealthiness, wealth, riches.

Richmond

The capital city of Virginia.

richou

(informal) A wealthy person.

ricil

A cosmetic used to darken and thicken the eyelashes.

ricine

(protein, poison) An extremely toxic lectin extracted from the castor bean.

ricocher

(intransitive) To ricochet.

ricochet

An instance of ricocheting; a glancing rebound.

ricochets

(transitive) To throw an object so it bounces on water.

ricotta

A soft Italian unsalted whey cheese resembling cottage cheese.

ride

A deep wrinkle in the skin of the face, especially on the forehead.

rideau

(countable) A piece of cloth, hung vertically as a curtain; a drape.

rideau de fumée

Smoke used as a disguise, mask or cover, as of troops in battle.

rider

(transitive) To draw into wrinkles.

ridicule

Expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing.

ridiculement

In a ridiculous manner. In a way that is funny, embarrassing or extremely implausible.

ridiculiser

(idiomatic, informal) To tease, ridicule or make jokes about, generally in a pejorative manner.

rien

Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatsoever; a thing of any kind; something or other.

riff

A repeated melody line in a song, usually instrumental but sometimes vocal.

rififi

(plurale tantum, informal) An impromptu fight with the fists, usually between only two people.

Riga

The capital city of Latvia.

rigide

Unyielding and obstinate.

rigidement

In a rigid manner; stiffly.

rigidité

The quality or state of being rigid; lack of pliability; the quality of resisting change of physical shape

rigole

A trench; a long, shallow indentation, as for irrigation or drainage.

rigoler

(intransitive, colloquial) To joke.

rigolo

Amusing; humorous; comical. [from mid-18th c.]

rigoriste

Stern, harsh and forbidding.

rigoureux

Stern, harsh and forbidding.

rigueur

(now, _, rare) The fact or quality of being right or correct; correctness of opinion or judgement. [from 15th c.]

rime

A thought expressed in verse; a verse; a poem; a tale told in verse.

rimer

(intransitive, of an utterance, text, etc.) To contain words that are pronounced identically to each other from the vowel in the stressed syllable to the end.