reciprocate

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
17
Words With Friends
20
Letters
11
Pronunciation
/ɹɪˈsɪpɹəˌkeɪt/

Definition of reciprocate

4 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

verb

  1. (transitive)To exchange two things, with both parties giving one thing and taking another thing.
    “The USTR isn't reciprocating actual tariffs. It's just placing the biggest tariffs on the countries running the biggest trade surpluses.”
See all 4 definitions

verb

  1. (transitive)To exchange two things, with both parties giving one thing and taking another thing.
    “The USTR isn't reciprocating actual tariffs. It's just placing the biggest tariffs on the countries running the biggest trade surpluses.”
  2. (transitive)To give something else in response (where the "thing" may also be abstract, a feeling or action) To make a reciprocal gift.
    “I gave them apples from my tree; they reciprocated with a pie and some apple jelly.”
    “Nugget appreciates the generosity! Nugget will reciprocate with a Monstermon card!”
  3. (intransitive)To move backwards and forwards, like a piston.
    “a reciprocating engine”
    “One brawny smith the puffing bellows plies, / And draws and blows reciprocating air.”
  4. (intransitive)To counter, retort or retaliate.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Latin recīprocātus, perfect passive participle of recīprocō (“to move back and forth”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from reciprocus (“back an forth, reciprocal, alternating”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), itself possibly from a phrase such as reque proque (“back and forth”), from re- (“back”), prō (“forwards”) and -que (“and”). See also reciprocal. Compare French réciproquer.

Anagrams of reciprocate

1 play · some not in Scrabble

Words you can make from reciprocate

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9-letter words

2 words

8-letter words

12 words

7-letter words

50 words

6-letter words

87 words

5-letter words

48 words

Hooks

2 extensions · 2 back

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