retroflection

A noun referring to the act of bending or turning backward, used in anatomy for the backward tilting of an organ or body part, and in phonetics for an articulatory gesture where the tongue tip curls back toward the roof of the mouth.

• 🇫🇷Nom désignant l'action de se courber ou de se tourner en arrière, utilisé en anatomie pour l'inclinaison d'un organe ou d'une partie du corps vers l'arrière, et en phonétique pour le geste articulatoire où la pointe de la langue se replie vers le palais.

1. Backward tilt of an organ C2 formal medical

   A medical condition where an organ or body part is turned or tilted backward from its normal position.

   • The ultrasound revealed a retroflection of the uterus.
   • Retroflection of the bladder can cause urinary issues.
   • The doctor diagnosed a mild retroflection of the organ.

   🇫🇷Rétroversion d'un organe

   Synonymes: retroversion

2. Speech articulation C2 formal scientific

   A phonetic gesture where the tip of the tongue is curled backward to touch the roof of the mouth, producing a retroflex sound.

   • Retroflection is common in the pronunciation of certain Indian languages.
   • The linguist studied the retroflection of the tongue in the speaker's dialect.
   • This sound requires a precise retroflection of the tongue tip.

   🇫🇷Rétroflexion (phonétique articulatoire)

   Synonymes: retroflexion

3. Bending backward C2 formal

   The act or process of bending something backward.

   • The gymnast's retroflection of her spine was impressive.
   • Retroflection of the stem indicated the plant's response to gravity.
   • The physical therapist noted a slight retroflection in the patient's posture.

   🇫🇷rétroflexion (action de courber en arrière)

   Synonymes: retroflexionretroversion

• retroflections plural form
• retroflections' possessive plural form
• retroflection's possessive singular form