retractile
capable of being drawn back or in, as the head of a tortoise; exhibiting the power of retraction.
Origin of retractile
1Other words from retractile
- re·trac·til·i·ty [ree-trak-til-i-tee], /ˌri trækˈtɪl ɪ ti/, noun
- non·re·trac·tile, adjective
- non·re·trac·til·i·ty, noun
- sub·re·trac·tile, adjective
Words Nearby retractile
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use retractile in a sentence
Two globose retractile vesicles issue from the ninth and tenth segments of those of Arctia chrysorrhea, &c.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. III (of 4) | William KirbyA tubular ovipositor, consisting of several pieces often retractile within each other, like the tubes of a telescope.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. III (of 4) | William KirbyOnce upon a time, many, many hundred years ago, the dog did use its claws; they were then retractile.
The Wonders of the Jungle, Book Two | Prince Sarath GhoshAlthough they resemble cats superficially they are not directly related to them and their claws are only partly retractile.
Camps and Trails in China | Roy Chapman Andrews and Yvette Borup AndrewsThese small palps were probably retractile, and capable of being withdrawn entirely under the hood.
The Origin of Vertebrates | Walter Holbrook Gaskell
British Dictionary definitions for retractile
/ (rɪˈtræktaɪl) /
capable of being drawn in: the retractile claws of a cat
Derived forms of retractile
- retractility (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
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