Definition of: retrograde

(ret′rə·grād) v. ·grad·ed, ·grad·ing v.i.
1. To move or appear to move backward; recede.
2. To grow worse; decline; degenerate.
3. Astron. To have a retrograde motion.
—v.t.
4. To cause to move backward; reverse.
—adjective
1. Going, moving, or tending backward; contrary; reversed.
2. Declining to or toward a worse state or character.
3. Astron. Apparently moving from east to west relatively to the fixed stars.
4. Reversed; inverted.
5. Obs. Opposed; contrary.
—noun A retrograde movement; decline. [<L retrogradus]
—ret′ro·gra·da′tion (-grā·dā′shən) noun