retroflex

[re-truh-fleks] /ˈrɛ trəˌflɛks/
adjective
1.
bent backward; exhibiting retroflexion.
2.
Phonetics. articulated with the tip of the tongue curled upward and back against or near the juncture of the hard and soft palates; cacuminal; cerebral; coronal.
Also, retroflexed
[re-truh-flekst] /ˈrɛ trəˌflɛkst/ (Show IPA).
Origin
1910-15; < Latin retrōflexus (past participle of retrōflectere to bend back). See retro-, flex1
British Dictionary definitions for retroflex

retroflex

/ˈrɛtrəʊˌflɛks/
adjective
1.
bent or curved backwards
2.
(phonetics) of, relating to, or involving retroflexion
Word Origin
C18: from Latin retrōflexus, from retrōflectere, from retro- + flectere to bend
Word Origin and History for retroflex
adj.

1776, from Modern Latin retroflexus, past participle of retroflectere "to bend back," from retro (see retro-) + flectere "to bend" (see flexible). The verb (1898) is a back-formation from retroflexed (1806), from the adjective.

Encyclopedia Article for retroflex

retroflex consonant

in phonetics, a consonant sound produced with the tip of the tongue curled back toward the hard palate. In Russian the sounds sh, zh (like the English s sound in "pleasure"), and shch are retroflex; there are also many retroflex consonants in the languages of India.

Learn more about retroflex consonant with a free trial on Britannica.com