retrieve

Retrieve is a verb meaning to get something back that has been lost or displaced, or to bring something back to a person, place, or state. It also applies to obtaining information by searching or recalling data stored elsewhere. In common use, one retrieves an object, a file, or a memory.

The word originates from Old French retriever, meaning to recover or fetch, itself from the idea of finding again or bringing back. Through Middle English, it entered English with the sense of returning or regaining possession, as in recovering a lost item or bringing back what was sought.

In everyday language, retrieve covers physical actions—fetching a ball, retrieving items from a shelf—and cognitive actions, such as retrieving a memory or a piece of information. In hunting and dog training, a retriever is a breed trained to locate and bring back game.

In information technology and library science, retrieval refers to the process of locating and presenting stored information. Information retrieval systems, such as search engines and databases, aim to retrieve relevant documents or data in response to user queries. Data retrieval is a broader term that includes reading from storage, database queries, and accessing archived records. Retrieval effectiveness is often measured by how accurately and completely the system returns relevant results.

Overall, retrieve encompasses both physical bringing back and the broader concept of accessing or recalling stored information. Its usage spans everyday actions, cognitive processes, and technical disciplines that manage stored data.