retardation

Meanings

1. The act of retarding or delaying; hindrance.
2. The distance by which one wave is behind another.
3. The act of diminishing the rate of speed.
4. A decrease in the speed of telegraph signalling.
5. The extent to which anything is retarded; the result of any retarding or delay; mental, social, or physical slowness.
6. Ellipsis of mental retardation.
7. Extreme stupidity.
8. That which retards; an obstacle; an obstruction.
9. Deceleration; reduction in the magnitude of velocity.
10. A suspension which resolves upwards.

Etymology

From retard + -ation.