retract

1
[ ri-trakt ]
See synonyms for: retractretractedretractation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to draw back or in: to retract fangs.

verb (used without object)
  1. to draw back within itself or oneself, fold up, or the like, or to be capable of doing this: The blade retracts.

Origin of retract

1
1400–50; late Middle English retracten<Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere to draw back, equivalent to re-re- + tractus (see tract1)

Words Nearby retract

Other definitions for retract (2 of 2)

retract2
[ ri-trakt ]

verb (used with object)
  1. to withdraw (a statement, opinion, etc.) as inaccurate or unjustified, especially formally or explicitly; take back.

  2. to withdraw or revoke (a decree, promise, etc.).

verb (used without object)
  1. to draw or shrink back.

  2. to withdraw a promise, vow, etc.

  1. to make a disavowal of a statement, opinion, etc.; recant.

Origin of retract

2
1535–45; <Latin retractāre to reconsider, withdraw, equivalent to re-re- + tractāre to drag, pull, take in hand (frequentative of trahere to pull)

Other words for retract

Other words from retract

  • re·tract·a·ble, re·tract·i·ble, adjective
  • re·tract·a·bil·i·ty, re·tract·i·bil·i·ty, noun
  • re·trac·ta·tion [ree-trak-tey-shuhn], /ˌri trækˈteɪ ʃən/, noun
  • un·re·tract·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use retract in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for retract

retract

/ (rɪˈtrækt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to draw in (a part or appendage): a snail can retract its horns; to retract the landing gear of an aircraft

  2. to withdraw (a statement, opinion, charge, etc) as invalid or unjustified

  1. to go back on (a promise or agreement)

  2. (intr) to shrink back, as in fear

  3. phonetics to modify the articulation of (a vowel) by bringing the tongue back away from the lips

Origin of retract

1
C16: from Latin retractāre to withdraw, from tractāre to pull, from trahere to drag

Derived forms of retract

  • retractable or retractible, adjective
  • retractability or retractibility, noun
  • retractation (ˌriːtrækˈteɪʃən), noun
  • retractive, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012