retardant adjective & noun. [rɪ'tɑ:d(ǝ)nt] M17.
[from RETARD verb + -ANT¹.]
A. adjective. Retarding, tending to retard. Now chiefly as 2nd elem. of comb., as fire-retardant, flame-retardant. M17.
b. noun. A retarding agent, esp. a substance that reduces or inhibits a specified phenomenon (chiefly as 2nd elem. of comb., as fire retardant, flame retardant). M20.

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