retch
n 1: an involuntary spasm of ineffectual vomiting; "a bad case
of the heaves" [syn: heave, retch]
v 1: eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth; "After
drinking too much, the students vomited"; "He purged
continuously"; "The patient regurgitated the food we gave
him last night" [syn: vomit, vomit up, purge, cast,
sick, cat, be sick, disgorge, regorge, retch,
puke, barf, spew, spue, chuck, upchuck, honk,
regurgitate, throw up] [ant: keep down]
2: make an unsuccessful effort to vomit; strain to vomit [syn:
gag, heave, retch]
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Retch \Retch\ (r[e^]ch or r[=e]ch; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
Retched (r[e^]cht); p. pr. & vb. n. Retching.] [AS.
hr[ae]can to clear the throat, hawk, fr. hraca throat; akin
to G. rachen, and perhaps to E. rack neck.]
To make an effort to vomit; to strain, as in vomiting.
[Written also reach.]
[1913 Webster]
Beloved Julia, hear me still beseeching!
(Here he grew inarticulate with retching.) --Byron.
[1913 Webster]
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