v.
Pronunciation: ri- ' trakt
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere ― more at RETREAT
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1 : to draw back or in <cats retract their claws>
2 a : TAKE BACK , WITHDRAW < retract a confession> b : DISAVOW
intransitive verb
1 : to draw or pull back
2 : to recant or disavow something
synonyms see ABJURE , RECEDE
– re · tract · able \ - ' trak-t ə -b ə l \ adjective