Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Retract
Re-tract′
(rē̍-trākt′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Retracted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Retracting
.] [F.
rétracter
, 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.2.
To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back;
as, to
. retract
an accusation or an assertionI would as freely have
retracted
this charge of idolatry as I ever made it. Bp. Stillingfleet.
3.
To take back,, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to revoke.
[Obs.]
Woodward.
Syn. – To recall; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant; abjure; disown.
Re-tract′
,Verb.
I.
1.
To draw back; to draw up;
as, muscles
. retract
after amputation2.
To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession or a declaration.
She will, and she will not; she grants, denies,
Consents,
Consents,
retracts
, advances, and then files. Granville.
Re-tract′
,Noun.
(Far.)
The pricking of a horse’s foot in nailing on a shoe.
Webster 1828 Edition
Retract
RETRACT'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To recall, as a declaration, words or saying; to disavow; to recant; as, to retract an accusation, charge or assertion.I would as freely have retracted the charge of idolatry, as I ever made it.
2.
To take back; to rescind. [Little used.]3.
To draw back, as claws.RETRACT'
,Verb.
T.
She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, consents, retracts, advances, and then flies.
RETRACT'
,Noun.
Definition 2024
retract
retract
English
Verb
retract (third-person singular simple present retracts, present participle retracting, simple past and past participle retracted)
- (transitive) To pull back inside.
- An airplane retracts its wheels for flight.
- (transitive, intransitive) To draw back; to draw up.
- Muscles retract after amputation.
- A cat can retract its claws.
- (transitive) To take back or withdraw something one has said.
- I retract all the accusations I made about the senator and sincerely hope he won't sue me.
- Bishop Stillingfleet
- I would as freely have retracted this charge of idolatry as I ever made it.
- Granville
- She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, / Consents, retracts, advances, and then flies.
- To take back, as a grant or favour previously bestowed; to revoke.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Woodward to this entry?)
Synonyms
Translations
to pull back inside
to take back or withdraw something one has said