Lexic.us

Definition of Retreat

1. Verb. Pull back or move away or backward. "The limo pulled away from the curb"

2. Noun. (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat. "The disorderly retreat of French troops"

3. Verb. Move away, as for privacy. "The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer"

4. Noun. A place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet.

5. Verb. Move back. "The glacier retrogrades"

6. Noun. (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position.

7. Verb. Make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity. "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"

8. Noun. (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset.

9. Noun. An area where you can be alone.

10. Noun. Withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation. "The religious retreat is a form of vacation activity"

11. Noun. The act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant).

Definition of Retreat

1. n. The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable.

2. v. i. To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field.

Definition of Retreat

1. Noun. The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant. ¹

2. Noun. The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position. ¹

3. Noun. A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy, or security. ¹

4. Noun. A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude. ¹

5. Noun. A period of meditation, prayer or study ¹

6. Noun. Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack. ¹

7. Noun. A signal for a military withdrawal. ¹

8. Noun. A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base. ¹

9. Noun. A military ceremony to lower the flag. ¹

10. Noun. (chess) Move (a piece) from threatetned position. ¹

11. Verb. To withdraw military forces. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Retreat

1. to go back or backward [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Retreat

1. 1. The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable. "In a retreat he otruns any lackey." (Shak) 2. The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a refuge; an asylum. "He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious retreat." (L'Estrange) "That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat." (Dryden) 3. The retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy, or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position. The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat. A signal given in the army or navy, by the beat of a drum or the sounding of trumpet or bugle, at sunset (when the roll is called), or for retiring from action. A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it differs from a flight. 4. A special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises. A period of several days of withdrawal from society to a religious house for exclusive occupation in the duties of devotion; as, to appoint or observe a retreat. Synonym: Retirement, departure, withdrawment, seclusion, solitude, privacy, asylum, shelter, refuge. Origin: F. Retraite, fr. Retraire to withdraw, L. Retrahere; pref. Re- re- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Retract, Retrace. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Retreat

retraumatizations retraumatize retraumatized retraumatizes retraumatizing retravel retraveled retraveling retravelled retravelling

retravels retread retreaded retreading retreads retreat (current term) retreat from reality retreatant retreatants retreated

retreater retreaters retreatful retreating retreatlike retreatment retreatments retreats retree retrees

Literary usage of Retreat

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Cambridge Modern History by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton Acton, Adolphus William Ward, George Walter Prothero, Ernest Alfred Benians (1906)
"Schwarzenberg announced that want of the barest necessities compelled the Austrian army to retreat into Bohemia — a resolution which decided the ..."

2. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs, Lydia Maria Francis Child (1861)
"The Loophole of retreat. XXI. THE LOOPHOLE OF retreat. A SMALL shed had been added to my grandmother's house years ago. Some boards were laid across the ..."

3. Dictionary of National Biography by LESLIE. STEPHEN (1889)
"This operation determined the French to retreat. ... In the subsequent retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras :he services of the cavalry under Sir Staple- ..."

4. The Works of Washington Irving by Washington Irving (1862)
"General Thomas, finding it impossible to make a stand at Point Deschambault, had continued his retreat to the mouth of the Sorel, where he found General ..."

5. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1904)
"MEANWHILE, in an event of even greater importance than the retreat of the army without a battle, in the abandonment and burning of Moscow, ..."

Other Resources: