Word Noun
retardation
n.
C2 Proficiency US /ɹitɑɹˈdeɪʃən/ UK /ɹɪtɑːdˈeɪʃən/ re·tar·da·tion UK spelling retardations
Definition
n.a delay or a slowing down of something. In music, it means a note or sound is played slightly later than it should be.
n.a reduction in the speed or rate of a process. In a musical context, it refers to the intentional delay of a note or sound relative to its expected timing.
Examples
“The drummer added a bit of retardation to the final measure.”
“In jazz, a musician might use a slight retardation to create a sense of tension before resolving back to the main beat.”
“The composer's use of rhythmic retardation in the second movement creates a feeling of hesitation and uncertainty that mirrors the protagonist's internal conflict.”
Usage mental retardation
Etymology
From retard + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated