/ rɪˈtrækt; NAmE / verb
1.
( formal ) to say that sth you have said earlier is not true or correct or that you did not mean it :
[ vn ]
He made a false confession which he later retracted.
They tried to persuade me to retract my words.
2.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to refuse to keep an agreement, a promise, etc. :
to retract an offer
3.
( technical ) to move back into the main part of sth; to pull sth back into the main part of sth :
[ v ]
The animal retracted into its shell.
[ vn ]
The undercarriage was fully retracted.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin retract- drawn back, from the verb retrahere (from re- back + trahere drag); the senses withdraw (a statement) and go back on via Old French from retractare reconsider (based on trahere drag).