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Retreat
Definitions
- 1 A locality in George Town council area and the City of Launceston, northern Tasmania, Australia.
- 1 The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
"In a retreat he outruns any lackey."
- 2 the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant) wordnet
- 3 The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.; The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
- 4 withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation wordnet
- 5 The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.; Withdrawal by a military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack.
"The general opted for a swift retreat because he saw his troops were vastly outnumbered."
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- 6 (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat wordnet
- 7 A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security.
"a mountain retreat"
- 8 an area where you can be alone wordnet
- 9 A peaceful, quiet place in which to urinate and defecate: an outhouse; a lavatory. euphemistic, obsolete, rare
- 10 (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset wordnet
- 11 A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude, especially for meditation, prayer, or study.
"We both need a week retreat after those two stressful years working in the city."
- 12 (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position wordnet
- 13 A signal for a military withdrawal.
- 14 a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet wordnet
- 15 A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
"to-morrow the Royal Standard will be hoisted at Edinburgh Castle from reveille to retreat."
- 16 A military ceremony to lower the flag.
- 17 The move of a piece from a threatened position.
- 1 To withdraw from a position, go back. intransitive
- 2 Alternative form of re-treat. alt-of, alternative, intransitive
- 3 make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity wordnet
- 4 To withdraw from a position, go back.; To withdraw military forces. intransitive
"The general refused to order his soldiers to retreat, despite being vastly outnumbered."
- 5 pull back or move away or backward wordnet
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- 6 To shrink back due to generally warmer temperatures. (of a glacier) intransitive
- 7 move back wordnet
- 8 To slope back. intransitive
"a retreating forehead"
- 9 move away, as for privacy wordnet
Etymology
From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret, from Latin retractus, from retraho. Doublet of retract, retrait, and ritratto.
From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret, from Latin retractus, from retraho. Doublet of retract, retrait, and ritratto.
From re- + treat.
See also for "retreat"
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