retard vs dampen

retard is a noun but dampen is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
retard	Yes	No	Yes	No
dampen	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, dampen is a hyponym of retard; that is, dampen is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than retard:

Other hyponyms of retard include delay, detain, stay.

retard (noun)	dampen (noun)
a person of subnormal intelligence

retard (verb)	dampen (verb)
lose velocity; move more slowly	lessen in force or effect
cause to move more slowly or operate at a slower rate	make moist
slow the growth or development of	check; keep in check (a fire)
be delayed	make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible
	reduce the amplitude (of oscillations or waves)
	suppress or constrain so as to lessen in intensity
	deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping