I. rə̇.ˈtrēt, rē.ˈ-, usu -rēd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English retret, from Middle French retret, retrait, from retrait, past participle of retraire to withdraw, from Latin retrahere to draw back, withdraw, from re- + trahere to draw, pull — more at draw
1.
a. : an act of retiring or withdrawing (as from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable or as into privacy from business, public life, or society) : the process of receding
this retreat from reality characterizes much of our thinking about social and criminal problems — D.W.Maurer & V.H.Vogel
the squalor of the medieval village had long been in retreat before the homely dignity and comfort of the rural middle class — G.M.Trevelyan
an escape from the world of men, a refusal to accept the responsibility of social and adult life, a retreat into the egocentric — Times Literary Supplement
the retreat of the forest — American Guide Series: Minnesota
the final ice retreat during the Ice Age — W.J.Miller
b.
(1) : the withdrawal especially when forced of troops from the presence of an enemy or from ground occupied to ground farther from the enemy or from an advanced position
(2) : a signal for retreating or retiring
(3) : a signal given by bugle with or without drums at the beginning of the flag-lowering ceremony at a military installation
(4) : the flag-lowering ceremony at a military installation that may constitute part of the ceremony of evening parade
2.
a. : a place to which someone retires : a place of seclusion, privacy, safety, or resort : a retired abode : hiding place : refuge
quiet city that is becoming a retreat for writers and artists — R.F.Warner
three acres for a country retreat — Green Peyton
regard the hut as a retreat and a camp rather than a home — H.S.Canby
b. : asylum
a charitable retreat for down-and-outs — Van Wyck Brooks
the provincial house and novitiate … is a retreat for aged or invalid members — American Guide Series: Maryland
3. : recessed work : a retired part : retirement , recess
a facade in retreat
4. : a special period of group withdrawal to a place of seclusion for the purpose of deepening the spiritual life of participants through such means as prayer, meditation, study, and instruction under a director
priests and religious usually make a retreat every year for a week or eight days — Cyprian Emanuel
5. : the extent to which an aeronautical structure (as an airplane wing tip) or similar structure recedes
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English retreten, from retret retreat
intransitive verb
1. : to make a retreat : retire from a position or place : withdraw
the army retreated
stared after the retreating cab — G.B.Shaw
labor determined not to retreat from the position it had attained — Oscar Handlin
became despondent, and retreated within herself — Journal of Child Psychiatry
as though a glacier had just retreated — Walter Bernstein
a retreating chin
2. : to slope backward — used of an airplane wing tip
transitive verb
: to draw or lead back : withdraw , remove
retreating his chair with intense disgust — George Meredith
no hurt retreats us from this calm — Genevieve Taggard
specifically : to move (a piece) back in chess
Synonyms: see recede