return-v; 6 Senses

Sense Number 1: go/come back to a location

Commentary:
NOTE: includes concrete motion uses.

Examples:
He returned from Germany last night.
He returned to his ex-wife.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. returned to Atlanta.
She returned to her office after lunch.

Mappings:
VerbNet: escape-51.1
FrameNet: Arriving,Resurrection
PropBank: return.01,return.03,return.04
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 5, 14

Sense Number 2: give back, pass to

Examples:
She returned the twenty dollars she borrowed last week.
With no heirs, the land will likely return to the state.
A final report should be returned to the council by tomorrow.

Mappings:
VerbNet: send-11.1
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: return.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 10, 13, 15, 16

Sense Number 3: respond, react

Examples:
He is returning the favor by letting her use the summer house.
She returned his insult before he could walk away.
I will return your call as soon as possible.

Mappings:
VerbNet: reciprocate-110.1
FrameNet: Response
PropBank: return.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 6, 8

Sense Number 4: render

Examples:
Have they returned a verdict yet?
The operation returns a string.
How much will his bond return in five years?
This rich land will return a bountiful crop every year.

Mappings:
VerbNet: engender-27
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 11

Sense Number 5: sports: return pass

Commentary:
NOTE: very specific subsense of sense 3.

Examples:
John returned the ball before the opposing team could steal it
away.
She returned his backhand.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 7

Sense Number 6: go/come back to a state or practice, restore, revive

Commentary:
NOTE: unlike sense 1, here final destination is abstract, not concrete location.

Examples:
After the war, they returned to their farming.
She is gradually returning to the traditions of her homeland.
Her old vigor has returned.
The local man returned to office after four years out of politics.
He returned to loving his ex-wife.

Mappings:
VerbNet: convert-26.6.2
FrameNet: Arriving,Resurrection
PropBank: return.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3, 4, 9, 12