reciprocate

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: re‧ci‧pro‧cate

Verb

Plain form reciprocate

Third-person singular reciprocates

Past tense reciprocated

Past participle reciprocated

Present participle reciprocating

1. (intransitive) To go with alternating forward and backward motion.

   A reciprocating engine is so called because its pistons reciprocate: they go forward and backward.

2. (transitive) When someone reciprocates something, it means that they give something back in return for something they get. This thing can be an object, or a feeling.

   She did not reciprocate his love for her.

Related words

• reciprocal