| 释义 |
reˈtardant, a. and n.
[Cf. retardance and -ant; also retardent.]
A. adj. Retarding, tending to hinder. Now usu. in Comb. with a preceding n., as fire-, flame-retardant adjs. (see also retardent a.).
1642Sir E. Dering Sp. on Relig. 1 If any thing I have said or done be..dissonant or retardant to a most severe Reformation. 1885Stedman Poets Amer. 468 We know the retardant effect of society upon artists of exalted sensibility. 1915[see fire-retardant adj. s.v. fire n. B. 2]. 1947,1966[see flame-retardant adj. s.v. flame n. 10]. 1971Financial Mail (Johannesburg) 26 Feb. 685/3 Flame-retardant paints. 1973Harrod's Xmas Catal. 59/2 Christmas tree realistically reproduced. Fire retardant. 1976Horse & Hound 3 Dec. 54/1 (Advt.), This specially shaped bed filled with Fire Retardant polystyrene beads takes the ache out of a tired wet dog.
B. n. A substance that reduces or inhibits some phenomenon (usu. specified by a preceding n., as in prec. sense).
1952[see fire-retardant n. s.v. fire n. B. 2]. 1959New Scientist 8 Oct. 633/1 By the combined effects of daylength control and a growth retardant, the growth habit of petunia plants can be modified so that the plants flower earlier than usual yet remain compact and bushy. 1971‘R. Macdonald’ Underground Man v. 31 The plane was lost in the smoke..then climbed out trailing a pastel red cloud of fire retardant. 1975Nature 3 July 4/3 Peel roughness could be controlled by spraying Alar (a growth retardant) on the citrus. 1976Shell in Industr. Chemicals 8 Flame retardants for polyurethane foams. |