retroflex

ret·ro·flex  (rtr-flks)

adj. also ret·ro·flexed (-flkst)

1. Bent, curved, or turned backward.

2. Pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back against the roof of the mouth.

n.

A sound pronounced with the tongue in retroflex position, as the sound (r) in some varieties of English.

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[Latin *retrflexus, past participle of retrflectere, to bend back : retr, retro- + flectere, to bend.]

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retro·flexion, retro·flection n.

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	retroflex - bend or turn backward replicate bend, flex - form a curve; "The stick does not bend"
	2.	retroflex - articulate (a consonant) with the tongue curled back against the palate; "Indian accents can be characterized by the fact that speakers retroflex their consonants" enounce, enunciate, pronounce, sound out, articulate, say - speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way; "She pronounces French words in a funny way"; "I cannot say `zip wire'"; "Can the child sound out this complicated word?"
Adj.	1.	retroflex - bent or curved backward retroflexed backward - directed or facing toward the back or rear; "a backward view"
	2.	retroflex - pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back toward the hard palate cacuminal linguistics - the scientific study of language backward - directed or facing toward the back or rear; "a backward view"