retrieval

[ ri-tree-vuhl ]

noun

1. the act of retrieving.
2. the chance of recovery or restoration:

   Sadly, many aboriginal languages have been lost beyond retrieval.

3. Psychology. the act or process of accessing information previously encoded and stored in memory: Compare recall ( def 9 ), recognition ( def 9 ).

   The article explores the use of picture matching tasks to assist in word retrieval in aphasic patients.

retrieval

/ rɪˈtriːvəl /

noun

1. the act or process of retrieving
2. the possibility of recovery, restoration, or rectification (esp in the phrase beyond retrieval )
3. a computer filing operation that recalls records or other data from a file

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrieval¹

First recorded in 1635–45; retrieve + -al ²

Example Sentences

Along the highway east of town, you will probably encounter Coyote, a 67-year-old junkyard proprietor with a booming baritone voice and a truck that says “UFO retrieval and repairs.”

From Los Angeles Times

Any student who failed their final placement had the opportunity to repeat it and achieve the competencies they had not achieved in a four week retrieval, the inquiry heard.

From BBC

The site’s head of retrievals, Alyson Armett, points out that without a “permanent solution” for the nuclear waste, the plans to decommission could be delayed.

From BBC

Part of that is due to complications around the search and recovery mission, which has now largely turned into a retrieval operation of bodies, various UN officials have said.

From BBC

Nimsdai, who has summited peaks higher than 8,000 meters 45 times — more than anyone else in history — said the retrieval mission was one of the most challenging tasks he had ever undertaken.

From New York Times