The spelling of the word "retch" can be confusing due to its unconventional pronunciation. According to IPA phonetic transcription, the word is spelled /rɛtʃ/. The "r" is pronounced with a slight emphasis, followed by a short "e" sound. The "tch" combination is pronounced as a single sound, similar to the "ch" in "church". Overall, the pronunciation is a combination of a gagging and coughing noise, which accurately represents the word's meaning of experiencing extreme nausea or vomiting.
Retch is a verb that refers to the involuntary and forceful contraction of the muscles of the throat and stomach, often accompanied by gagging or vomiting. This action typically occurs as a reflex response to a strong sensation of disgust, repulsion, or the feeling of having something unpleasant or toxic in the stomach or upper digestive tract.
When a person retches, the muscles of the diaphragm, throat, and stomach contract vigorously, creating a strong pressure that forces the contents of the stomach or upper digestive tract to move upwards towards the mouth. This may cause a person to gag or vomit, expelling the stomach's contents through the mouth in an effort to rid the body of a perceived harmful or undesirable substance.
Retching can be triggered by various factors such as foul odors, taste aversions, consuming spoiled or contaminated food, experiencing severe nausea or illness, or even witnessing something extremely disgusting. It is important to note that retching is a protective mechanism of the body that helps expel potentially harmful substances to maintain overall health and well-being.
Although retching is a normal bodily reaction, it can also be a symptom of certain medical conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), food poisoning, gastrointestinal infections, or morning sickness during pregnancy. In such cases, it is advisable to seek medical attention if retching becomes persistent or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms.
To make an involuntary effort to vomit.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
To make an effort to vomit; to strain; to heave at the stomach.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "retch" is derived from the Old English verb "hræcan", meaning "to clear one's throat, spit out". This verb, in turn, comes from the Proto-Germanic root "hrækaną". The term later evolved in Middle English as "rechen" before eventually becoming "retch" in its modern form.