ri·tar·dan·do ËŒrÄ“tärˈdändÅ/ Music adverb & adjective adverb: ritardando; adjective: ritardando; adverb: ritard 1.(especially as a direction) with a gradual decrease of tempo. noun noun: ritardando; plural noun: ritardandi; plural noun: ritardandos; noun: ritard; plural noun: ritards 1. a gradual decrease in tempo 2. To go slower Origin: Italian musical term