retro
/ˈretrəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈretrəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈre-(ˌ)trō/ (ame, mw) · /ret.rəʊ-/ (bre, ipa) · /ret.roʊ-/ (ame, ipa)
retro — adjective
- retropositive
- more retrocomparative
- most retrosuperlative
1. made to look like a style from earlier decades — for example, clothing, music, o
made to look like a style from earlier decades — for example, clothing, music, or furniture that copies designs people liked twenty to forty years ago, usually in a fun or fashionable way.
Kasia bought a retro dress with big polka dots and a wide belt.
collocation: retro dress / retro style
The diner had a retro look with red vinyl seats and a jukebox in the corner.
collocation: retro look / retro feel
Christopher loves collecting retro video game consoles from the 1990s.
Retro furniture from the 1970s has become popular again among young homeowners.
Hassan decorated his bedroom with retro posters and a lava lamp.
- vintage
vintage usually describes something genuinely old and of high quality, not a modern copy of an old style
- old-fashioned
broader in meaning; can describe anything that belongs to an earlier time, not necessarily stylish or cool
- nostalgic
focuses on the emotional feeling of missing the past, rather than on the visual style itself
- modern
relating to current or present-day styles rather than past ones
- contemporary
belonging to or occurring in the present, not imitating past styles
用法筆記
Commonly describes items from the 1950s to 1990s. Unlike 'vintage,' which implies the item is genuinely old, 'retro' can describe a new item that simply copies an old style.
常見錯誤
retro — prefix
1. added to the beginning of a word to mean 'backwards,' 'behind,' or 'in the oppos
added to the beginning of a word to mean 'backwards,' 'behind,' or 'in the opposite direction' — for example, in words like retrograde (moving backward) or retroactive (applying to past events).
The politician tried to undo recent changes in a retrograde move that angered many voters.
prefix: retro- + grade = retrograde (moving backwards)
The new law was made retroactive, so it affected people who had already paid their taxes.
In biology, some viruses are called retroviruses because they copy their genetic material in reverse order.
The spacecraft fired its retro-rockets to slow down and begin its return to Earth.
用法筆記
Common in scientific, legal, and formal vocabulary. Unlike the standalone adjective 'retro,' this prefix carries a literal sense of direction or time reversal and does not carry stylistic or nostalgic connotations.
常見錯誤
2. added to the beginning of a word to mean 'relating to the past' or 'looking back
added to the beginning of a word to mean 'relating to the past' or 'looking back at earlier events' — for example, in words like retrospect (looking back in time) or retrospective (a review of past work).
In retrospect, Rania realised she had made the right decision by moving abroad.
collocation: in retrospect (common phrase = looking back)
The museum held a retrospective exhibition of Tamar's paintings from the 1980s.
Beatriz wrote a retrospective essay about the changes in her hometown over thirty years.
A retrospective study compared patient records from the last decade to find health trends.
- backward-looking
a less formal alternative, but can carry a negative tone (resistant to change)
- retrospective
functions as an adjective or noun; 'retrospective' is the full word whereas 'retro-' is a prefix
- prospective
means looking forward or relating to the future, e.g., a prospective study looks ahead
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (BACKWARDS): this sense focuses on time rather than physical direction. 'In retrospect' is an especially common fixed phrase for reflecting on past decisions.