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Glite Dictionary
🧠 Memory loss ⬅️ Moving backward 🪐 Reverse orbit 🔄 Becoming worse ⬅️ To move backward 🔄 To get worse 🪐 To reverse direction
to retrograde

to retrograde

8.8
To move backward in an orbit as seen from Earth
  • verb
  • /ˈrɛtrəˌɡreɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : moverse en sentido retrógrado
  • During the summer, when Jupiter retrogrades, stargazers notice its unusual path against the stars.

Examples

  • As Mars retrogrades, it appears to move backward in the sky for a few weeks.

  • Something happens this year that's never happened before in American history: Mercury stations retrograde on the day of a presidential election.

    Blog text (24)

  • Astronomers observed that Venus will retrograde later this month, creating a unique sight for viewers.

Synonyms

to turn back
vsto retrograde
11 2.6

To make the inside face outwards

is apparent backward orbital motion seen from a specific viewpoint

Antonyms

prograde
  • Specialized
7.7

Moving in the same direction as a planet or star spins, like most planets

Compounds

retrograde amnesia
  • Specialized
3 8.1

A loss of memory for events just before an injury

Surface Forms

retrograde infinitive
retrograded past
retrograded past participle
retrograding present participle
retrogrades third person singular

Morphology

retrograde = grade (transparent) = retro + grade

The astronomical sense 'move backward' is a direct literal composition of 'retro-' (back) + 'grade' (move/step).

Etymology

Retrograde comes from retro- 'back' and gradus 'step', so when a body in space retrogrades it appears to 'step back' in its orbit as seen from a certain point on Earth.