Definitions for: Retch


[n] an involuntary spasm of ineffectual vomiting; "a bad case of the heaves"
[v] eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth; "After drinking too much, the students vomited"; "He purged continuously"; "The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night"
[v] make an unsuccessful effort to vomit; strain to vomit



Webster (1913) Definition: Retch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Retched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Retching.] [AS. hr?can to clear the throat, hawk, fr. hraca
throat; akin to G. rachen, and perhaps to E. rack neck.]
To make an effort to vomit; to strain, as in vomiting.
[Written also reach.]

Beloved Julia, hear me still beseeching! (Here he grew
inarticulate with retching.) --Byron.


Retch, v. t. & i. [See Reck.]
To care for; to heed; to reck. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Synonyms: barf, be sick, cast, cat, chuck, disgorge, gag, heave, heave, honk, puke, purge, regorge, regurgitate, sick, spew, spue, throw up, upchuck, vomit, vomit up

Antonyms: keep down

See Also: egest, eliminate, excrete, pass, spasm

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