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Function and Return

noun

  • Mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function. ()
  • What something is used for.
    • usage: "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it"
  • The actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group.
    • usage: "the function of a teacher"; "the government must do its part"; "play its role"
  • A relation such that one thing is dependent on another.
    • usage: "height is a function of age"; "price is a function of supply and demand"
  • A formal or official social gathering or ceremony.
    • usage: "it was a black-tie function"
  • A vaguely specified social event.
    • usage: "the party was quite an affair"; "an occasion arranged to honor the president"; "a seemingly endless round of social functions"
  • A set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program.

verb

  • Perform as expected when applied.
    • usage: "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"
  • Serve a purpose, role, or function.
    • usage: "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk"
  • Perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function.
    • usage: "His wife officiated as his private secretary"

noun

  • Document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability.
    • usage: "his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return"
  • A coming to or returning home.
    • usage: "on his return from Australia we gave him a welcoming party"
  • The occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction.
  • Getting something back again.
    • usage: "upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing"
  • The act of going back to a prior location.
    • usage: "they set out on their return to the base camp"
  • The income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property.
    • usage: "the average return was about 5"
  • Happening again (especially at regular intervals. )
    • usage: "the return of spring"
  • A quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one. )
    • usage: "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher"
  • The key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed.
  • A reciprocal group action.
    • usage: "in return we gave them as good as we got"
  • A tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player.
    • usage: "he won the point on a cross-court return"
  • American football. ( the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble)
  • The act of someone appearing again.
    • usage: "his reappearance as Hamlet has been long awaited"

verb

  • Go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before.
    • usage: "return to your native land"; "the professor returned to his teaching position after serving as Dean"
  • Give back.
    • usage: "render money"
  • Go back to a previous state.
    • usage: "We reverted to the old rules"
  • Go back to something earlier.
    • usage: "This harks back to a previous remark of his"
  • Bring back to the point of departure.
  • Return in kind.
    • usage: "return a compliment"; "return her love"
  • Make a return.
    • usage: "return a kickback"
  • Answer back.
  • Be restored.
    • usage: "Her old vigor returned"
  • Pay back.
    • usage: "Please refund me my money"
  • Pass down.
    • usage: "render a verdict"; "deliver a judgment"
  • Elect again.
  • Be inherited by.
    • usage: "The estate fell to my sister"; "The land returned to the family"; "The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead"
  • Return to a previous position; in mathematics.
    • usage: "The point returned to the interior of the figure"
  • Give or supply.
    • usage: "The cow brings in 5 liters of milk"; "This year's crop yielded 1, 000 bushels of corn"; "The estate renders some revenue for the family"
  • Submit (a report, etc.) to someone in authority.
    • usage: "submit a bill to a legislative body"

Your' Return' is the profit you make on your investments, usually expressed as an annual percentage. That lets you compare the return of different investments or investments you have held for different periods of time. For example, if you bought a stock at $25 a share and sold it for $30 a share, your return would be $5. If you bought on January 3, and sold it the following January 3, that would be a 20% annual percentage return, or the $5 return divided by your $25 investment. But if you held the stock for five years before selling for $30 a share, your annual return would be 4, because the 20% gain is divided by five years rather than one year.