rewind
Definition
Verb:
- To wind again or back: "rewind" means to cause something (such as a tape, film, or thread) to wind backward to an earlier position or starting point.
- To reverse the direction of: In the context of media, "rewind" refers to moving a recording or playback device backward, typically to replay a section.
Noun:
- The act of rewinding: "rewind" can also refer to the action or process of winding back, especially on a tape or video player.
- A button or control: In devices, "rewind" is the button or function used to reverse the medium.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- Please rewind the cassette to the beginning of the song. (Wind the tape back to the start.)
- He had to rewind the film after it jammed in the camera. (Wind the film backward.)
Noun:
- Press the rewind to go back to the previous scene. (The button that reverses the playback.)
- The rewind of the video took only a few seconds. (The process of winding back.)
Advanced Usage
- "to rewind time": a metaphorical use meaning to go back to an earlier moment, often in thought or regret.
- If I could rewind time, I would make a different choice. (Return to a past moment.)
Variants and Related Words
Rewinder (n): a device or person that rewinds something.
- The rewinder for the film broke during the movie. (The tool that winds back film.)
Rewindable (adj): capable of being rewound.
- This tape is not rewound; it is rewound only with a special machine. (Can be wound back.)
Synonyms
- Reverse: to move backward in direction or order.
- Wind back: to turn a handle or mechanism to return to an earlier position.
Phrasal Verbs
- Rewind to: to move back to a specific point in a recording.
- Rewind to the part where the song starts. (Move the tape back to that exact location.)
Related Idioms
- Rewind and replay: to go back over something, often to analyze or enjoy it again.
- Let's rewind and replay that conversation to see what went wrong. (Review the past event.)