'Retract' definitions:
Definition of 'retract'
(from WordNet)
verb
Formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs" [syn: abjure, recant, forswear, retract, resile]
verb
Pull away from a source of disgust or fear [syn: shrink back, retract]
verb
Use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ) [syn: retract, pull back, draw back]
verb
Pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws" [syn: draw in, retract]
Definition of 'Retract'
From: GCIDE
- Retract \Re*tract"\ (r[-e]*tr[=a]kt"), 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. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back; as, to retract an accusation or an assertion. [1913 Webster]
- I would as freely have retracted this charge of idolatry as I ever made it. --Bp. Stillingfleet. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To take back,, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to revoke. [Obs.] --Woodward. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: To recall; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant; abjure; disown. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Retract'
From: GCIDE
- Retract \Re*tract"\, v. i.
- 1. To draw back; to draw up; as, muscles retract after amputation. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession or a declaration. [1913 Webster]
- She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, Consents, retracts, advances, and then files. --Granville. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Retract'
From: GCIDE
- Retract \Re*tract"\, n. (Far.) The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a shoe. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'retract'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abandon,
- abjure,
- abolish,
- abrogate,
- annul,
- assert the contrary,
- back,
- back down,
- back out,
- backwater,
- belie,
- cancel,
- cede,
- climb down,
- contest,
- contradict,
- contravene,
- controvert,
- counter,
- countermand,
- counterorder,
- crawfish out,
- cringe,
- cross,
- deny,
- disaffirm,
- disallow,
- disannul,
- disavow,
- disclaim,
- disgorge,
- disown,
- dispense with,
- dispose of,
- disprove,
- dispute,
- do away with,
- do without,
- draw back,
- draw in,
- drop,
- duck,
- dump,
- eat crow,
- eat humble pie,
- fall back,
- flinch,
- forgo,
- forswear,
- gainsay,
- get along without,
- get rid of,
- give away,
- give up,
- have done with,
- impugn,
- invalidate,
- join issue upon,
- kiss good-bye,
- make a sacrifice,
- make void,
- not accept,
- not admit,
- nullify,
- oppose,
- override,
- overrule,
- palinode,
- part with,
- pull back,
- pull in,
- pull out,
- quitclaim,
- recall,
- recant,
- refuse to admit,
- refute,
- relinquish,
- render up,
- renege,
- renounce,
- repeal,
- repudiate,
- rescind,
- resign,
- retreat,
- retrocede,
- retrograde,
- reverse,
- revoke,
- sacrifice,
- set aside,
- shrink,
- shy,
- spare,
- surrender,
- suspend,
- swallow,
- swear off,
- take,
- take back,
- take issue with,
- throw up,
- unsay,
- vacate,
- void,
- waive,
- wince,
- withdraw,
- write off,
- yield