Word · Frequency #17000
retrograde
（天体）逆行
to move backward in an orbit, said of a celestial body
此义主要用于天文学，指行星等在轨道上向后移动。
- 1.
To cause (a land feature such as a coastline or waterfall) to undergo retrogradation, that is, to travel in the direction of the land or upstream due to erosion.
使后退；使溯源侵蚀
- 2.
move backward in an orbit, of celestial bodies
(天体)在轨道上向后移动
- 3.
To change (minerals, rocks, etc.) metamorphically through a decrease in pressure or temperature.
使退变质
- 4.
move in a direction contrary to the usual one
朝着与通常方向相反的方向移动
- 5.
To revert to an inferior or less developed state; to decline, to regress.
倒退；退步
- 6.
move back
后退；返回
- 7.
Of a celestial body, especially a planet: to show retrogradation; to seem to move across the sky in the opposite direction from its ordinary movement.
逆行
- 8.
Of a land feature: to travel in the direction of the land or upstream due to erosion.
溯源侵蚀；后退
- 9.
To retreat or withdraw from a position.
撤退；后退
使后退；使溯源侵蚀；(天体)在轨道上向后移动；使退变质；朝着与通常方向相反的方向移动；倒退；退步
In use
Every two years, Mars appears to retrograde for several weeks.
The telescope showed the asteroid retrograding against the background stars.
Some moons in the outer solar system retrograde around their planets.
retrograding planets
The glacier retrogrades
be + retrograde
形容词用法，意为“倒退的、退步的”，常作表语，用于正式语境。注意与动词用法区分。
Critics argue that the new policy is retrograde and harmful.
批评者认为新政策是倒退的，而且有害。
subject + retrograde
不及物动词用法，尤指天体沿轨道向后移动，后面不接宾语。
Connections
Collocations
- retrograde motion
- 逆行运动
- The retrograde motion of Mars can be observed from Earth.火星的逆行运动可以从地球上观察到。
- retrograde orbit
- 逆行轨道
- The comet follows a retrograde orbit around the Sun.这颗彗星沿逆行轨道绕太阳运行。
- retrograde rotation
- 逆行自转
- Venus is known for its slow retrograde rotation.金星以其缓慢的逆行自转而闻名。
- go retrograde
- 开始逆行
- Mercury will go retrograde three times next year.水星明年将三次开始逆行。
Idioms & figurative uses
- Mercury is in retrograde
- 水星逆行（常用来形容诸事不顺、运气不佳）My phone died right before the interview—Mercury must be in retrograde.面试前手机突然没电了——一定是水星在逆行。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
记 retro 有“回”的感觉，天体在轨道上“倒退”就是 retrograde，像行星走着走着往回退。
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：astronomy、astrology、scientific writing 此处指动词义“（天体）逆行”，多用于天文学或占星术等书面语境，属于比较正式的专业用语；日常口语中较少使用。
Pronunciation & Spelling
真正与 retrograde 押韵的常用词有 grade、degrade、upgrade、centigrade（结尾均为 -grade /ɡreɪd/），parade、invade（结尾为 -ade /eɪd/）也押韵。注意形近词如 retrospect /ˈrɛtrəˌspɛkt/、retroactive /ˌrɛtroʊˈæktɪv/ 虽以 retro- 开头，但与 -grade 不押韵，不能按拼写类推读音。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.