re·trieve / riˈtrēv/ • v. [tr.] get (something) back; regain possession of: I was sent to retrieve the balls from his garden. ∎  pick (something) up: Steven stooped and retrieved his hat. ∎  (of a dog) find and bring back (game or an object). ∎  bring (something) back into one's mind: the police hope to encourage him to retrieve forgotten memories. ∎  find or extract (information stored in a computer). ∎  put right or improve (an unwelcome situation): he made one last desperate attempt to retrieve the situation. ∎  [intr.] reel or bring in a fishing line.• n. 1. an act of retrieving something, esp. game that has been shot. ∎  an act of reeling or drawing in a fishing line.2. archaic the possibility of recovery: he ruined himself beyond retrieve.DERIVATIVES: re·triev·a·bil·i·ty / riˌtrēvəˈbilətē/ n.re·triev·a·ble adj.

retrieve †(of dogs) find again (game that has been lost) XV; recover, regain XVI; bring in (killed or wounded game) XIX. ME retreve — OF. retroev-, -euv-, tonic stem of retrover (mod. retrouver), f. RE- + trover find.
Hence retriever (-ER1) †dog used to set up game again XV; breed of dog adapted for recovering game XIX.