Definitions for: Retract


[v] formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs"
[v] pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws"
[v] use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)
[v] shrink back, as in fear



Webster (1913) Definition: Re*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retracted; p. pr. &
vb. n. Retracting.] [F. r['e]tracter, L. retractare,
retractatum, to handle again, reconsider, retract, fr.
retrahere, retractum, to draw back. See Retreat.]
1. To draw back; to draw up or shorten; as, the cat can
retract its claws; to retract a muscle.

2. Ti withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take
back; as, to retract an accusation or an assertion.

I would as freely have retracted this charge of
idolatry as I ever made it. --Bp.
Stillingfleet.

3. To take back,, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to
revoke. [Obs.] --Woodward.

Syn: To recal; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow;
recant; abjure; disown.


Re*tract", v. i.
1. To draw back; to draw up; as, muscles retract after
amputation.

2. To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession
or a declaration.

She will, and she will not; she grants, denies,
Consents, retracts, advances, and then files.
--Granville.


Re*tract", n. (Far.)
The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a shoe.


Re*tract", n.
Retreat. [Obs.] --Bacon.

Synonyms: abjure, draw back, draw in, forswear, pull back, recant, resile, shrink back

See Also: attract, cringe, draw, flinch, funk, introvert, invaginate, pull, pull in, quail, recoil, renounce, repudiate, shrink, squinch, wince

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