retoma

Retoma is a Portuguese term that most often appears as the third-person singular present indicative form of the verb retomar, meaning to resume, to take back, or to regain possession. It is used to describe restarting an activity after an interruption, reclaiming control, or returning to a previously held state. The related noun retomada is more common when referring to the act or process of resuming something, as in retomada econômica (economic upturn) or retomada de posse (reclaiming possession).

Etymology and form: Retoma derives from the prefix re- (again) combined with tomar (to take). This yields the sense of taking again or doing something again. The word is productive in both formal and informal Portuguese and appears across different varieties of the language.

Usage notes: Retoma is primarily a verb form and is used with a subject in sentences such as “O governo retoma o controle da fronteira” (The government resumes control of the border) or “Ela retoma as negociações amanhã” (She resumes negotiations tomorrow). The noun form retomada is used to name the act or state of resuming, as in “a retomada do crescimento” (the return to growth). In legal or property contexts, phrases like “retomada de posse” describe the reclaiming of land or assets.

See also: retomar; retomada; retomada econômica; retomada de posse.