Retrieval is the process of getting something back or regaining access to information stored in memory or safe storage. In information science or data contexts, it refers to locating and returning stored data or documents. The term emphasizes recovering or obtaining a specific item or piece of knowledge that was previously available. It is commonly used in fields like psychology, computing, and law.
"The retrieval of archived files took longer than expected."
"Memory retrieval can be affected by stress and distraction."
"The librarian assisted with the retrieval of rare manuscripts."
"During the court case, retrieval of relevant emails became crucial."
Retrieval derives from the French rehabilitation? Actually, retrieve comes from Old French retrieve , derived from late Latin recuperare, from re- ‘again’ + capere ‘take, seize’. In English, retrieve originally meant to fetch again, bring back, or recover property. The noun retrieval follows common English formation: add -al to the verb to indicate the action or process (the retrieval of data, evidence, or memories). The sense broadens from physical fetching to psychological and information contexts in modern usage. First attested senses appear in the late 15th to 16th centuries with “to retrieve” meaning to fetch again, repair, or recover. By the 20th century, specialized domains adopted the term for data retrieval, memory retrieval, and legal access to records, expanding its lexical field while preserving core “bring back” semantics. Over time, computational and cognitive sciences reinforced the notion of locating and returning stored resources, making it a central term in information retrieval, databases, and memory studies.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Retrieval" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Retrieval"
-me) sounds
-nt? sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounced /rɪˈtriːvəl/ (ri-TRIE-vuhl). The primary stress falls on the second syllable: ri-TRIE-val. Start with a short, relaxed 'ri' as in 'ring' but quickly move into the long 'tree' vowel /iː/. End with a soft schwa /ə/ followed by /l/. Visualize: rih- TREE- vuhl. For speaker familiarity, listen to audio examples on Cambridge/YouGlish and mimic the mouth shape.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying re-TRIE-val with stress on the first syllable), and truncating the middle vowel to a reduced form (ri-TEV-əl). Also, some speakers shorten the final /əl/ to /əl̩/ or drop the /v/ blending. Correct by maintaining primary stress on the second syllable and ensuring the /tr/ cluster leads into a long /iː/ before the /v/ and ending with a clear /əl/.
In US and UK, /r/ is rhotic in both, so r- sound is pronounced. The main difference is vowel quality: US often has a slightly longer /ɪ/ followed by a stronger /iː/ in the stressed syllable, while UK tends to a crisper /iː/ and less vowel length variation. Australian tends toward a broader /ɪ/ in the initial syllable and a more centralized end /əl/. Overall the /rɪˈtriːvəl/ skeleton stays, with subtle vowel shifts.
Key challenges include the /rɪ/ onset before the long /iː/ in the stressed syllable and the /v/ preceding the final /əl/. The /tr/ cluster transitions quickly into /iː/ which can blur for non-native speakers, and the final /əl/ can reduce to a schwa+dark /l/ if not careful. Mastery requires precise tongue position for /r/, clean /t/ release into /r/ and /iː/, and a clearly pronounced final /əl/.
The word has a syllable boundary after the first consonant cluster: re-TRIE-val. The primary stress sits on the second syllable, and there is no silent letter. The tricky part is ensuring the /t/ and /r/ connect smoothly into the long /iː/ vowel of the stressed syllable and that the final /əl/ is not reduced to a mere /l/ or /əl̩/. Practicing with minimal pairs can help you lock the rhythm.
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