Re·turn, v. t.
 1. To bring, carry, send, or turn, back; as, to return a borrowed book, or a hired horse.
    Both fled attonce, ne ever back returned eye.   --Spenser.
 2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money.
 3. To give in requital or recompense; to requite.
    The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.   --1 Kings ii. 44.
 4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return thanks.
 5. To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie.
    If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me, that I affect to be thought more impartial than I am.   --Dryden.
 6. To report, or bring back and make known.
    And all the people answered together, . . . and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.   --Ex. xix. 8.
 7. To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially by a list or statement; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to return the result of an election.
 8. Hence, to elect according to the official report of the election officers. [Eng.]
 9. To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ.
 10. To convey into official custody, or to a general depository.
    Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return the same to the treasurer for his majesty's use.   --Clarendon.
 11. Tennis To bat (the ball) back over the net.
 12. Card Playing To lead in response to the lead of one's partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a club.
 To return a lead Card Playing, to lead the same suit led by one's partner.
 Syn: -- To restore; requite; repay; recompense; render; remit; report.