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retractile

[ ri-trak-til ]
/ rɪˈtræk tɪl /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR retractile ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Zoology.

capable of being drawn back or in, as the head of a tortoise; exhibiting the power of retraction.

RELATED WORDS

tentacle, paw, fingernail, talon, nipper, crook, hook, barb, spur, unguis, clapperclaw, fang, manus, grapnel, grappler, ungula

Nearby words

  1. retouch,
  2. retox,
  3. retrace,
  4. retract,
  5. retractable,
  6. retraction,
  7. retraction nystagmus,
  8. retractive,
  9. retractively,
  10. retractor

Origin of retractile

First recorded in 1770–80; retract1 + -ile
Related formsre·trac·til·i·ty [ree-trak-til-i-tee] /ˌri trækˈtɪl ɪ ti/, nounnon·re·trac·tile, adjectivenon·re·trac·til·i·ty, nounsub·re·trac·tile, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for retractile

British Dictionary definitions for retractile

retractile

/ (rɪˈtræktaɪl) /

adjective

capable of being drawn inthe retractile claws of a cat
Derived Formsretractility (ˌriːtrækˈtɪlɪtɪ), noun
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
Medicine definitions for retractile

retractile

[ rĭ-trăk′tĭl, -tīl′ ]

adj.

That can be drawn back or in, as the claws of a cat.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.