ret

¹

[ ret ]

verb (used with object)

, ret·ted, ret·ting.

1. to soak in water or expose to moisture, as flax or hemp, to facilitate the removal of the fiber from the woody tissue by partial rotting.

ret.

²

abbreviation for

1. retain.
2. retired.
3. return.
4. returned.

ret

/ rɛt /

verb

1. tr to moisten or soak (flax, hemp, jute, etc) to promote bacterial action in order to facilitate separation of the fibres from the woody tissue by beating

Other Words From

• un·retted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ret¹

1400–50; late Middle English reten, retten; cognate with Dutch reten (compare Dutch roten, German rössen, Swedish röta ); akin to rot

Word History and Origins

Origin of ret¹

C15: of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch reeten , Swedish röta , German rösten ; see rot ¹

Example Sentences

As the researchers note, there are already plenty of photo ret ouching tools that can remove red eye or smooth out blemishes, so why not one that solves the problem of accidental blinks?

From The Verge

Under a brush tree, a mountain of moss was retting — a process that to the untrained eye looks a lot like rotting.

From New York Times

Tract. de H�ret. c. xviii., xix., xxv.

From Project Gutenberg

They are then pulled, and after the seed has been removed are retted in the ordinary way.

From Project Gutenberg

The ret of the away-fan allocation will go to fans in supporters groups.

From Seattle Times