retrieval
UK: rɪˈtriːvəl | US: rɪˈtriːvəl
n. the act of retrieving or recovering something
n. (computing) the process of accessing stored data
n. the restoration or revival of something
The word "retrieval" originates from the Old French retrouver (to find again), combining re- (again) and trouver (to find). The Middle English retreven evolved into "retrieve," with the suffix -al later added to form the noun. The morpheme triev preserves the core idea of "finding," while re- emphasizes repetition or restoration. This reflects the word's dual focus on recovery and access, particularly in modern computing contexts.
The retrieval of lost documents took several hours.
Data retrieval speed is critical for efficient database performance.
The dog was trained for the retrieval of game during hunts.
Archaeologists celebrated the successful retrieval of ancient artifacts.
The software improves retrieval accuracy in large datasets.