Webster's English Dictionary

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retreat

Cross references:
  1. recede                
 
1. re.treat \ri-'tre-t\ n [ME retret, fr. MF retrait, fr. pp. of retraire 
   to withdraw,]fr. L retrahere, lit., to draw back, fr. re- + trahere to draw 
   - more at DRAW 1a: an act or process of withdrawing esp. from what is 
   difficult, dangerous , or disagreeable 1b1: the usu. forced withdrawal of 
   troops from an enemy or from an advanced  position 1b2: a signal for 
   retreating  1c1: a signal given by bugle at the beginning of a military 
   flag-lowering c eremony 1c2: a military flag-lowering ceremony  2: a place 
   of privacy or safety : REFUGE  3: a period of group withdrawal for prayer, 
   meditation, study, and instruct ion under a director
2. retreat vi : to make a retreat : WITHDRAW to draw or lead back : REMOVE 
   ; specif : to move (a piece) back in chess