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Definitions for: Retreat
[n] withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation; "a religious retreat"
[n] (military) withdrawal to a more favorable position
[n] an area where you can be alone
[n] (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
[n] (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
[n] a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
[v] make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity; "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"
[v] pull back or move away or backward; "The enemy withdrew"; "The limo pulled away from the curb"
[v] move back; "The glacier retrogrades"
[v] move away, as for privacy; "The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer"
Webster (1913) Definition: Re*treat", n. [F. retraite, fr. retraire to withdraw,
L. retrahere; pref. re- re- + trahere to draw. See Trace,
and cf. Retract, Retrace.]
1. The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially
from what is dangerous or disagreeable.
In a retreat he o?truns 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. (Mil. & Naval.)
(a) 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.
(b) The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for
the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping
after defeat.
(c) 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.
Note: A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which
circumstance it differs from a flight.
4. (Eccl.)
(a) A special season of solitude and silence to engage in
religious exercises.
(b) 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.
Syn: Retirement; departure; withdrawment; seclusion;
solitude; privacy; asylum; shelter; refuge.
Re*treat", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Retreated; p. pr. &
vb. n. Retreating.]
To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to
withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field.
The rapid currents drive Towards the retreating sea
their furious tide. --Milton.
Synonyms: back away, back out, crawfish, crawfish out, draw back, hideaway, move back, pull away, pull back, pull back, pull in one's horns, recede, retire, retirement, retrograde, withdraw, withdraw
See Also: area, area, back down, back off, back up, bugle call, Camp David, country, disengagement, fall back, fallback, go, high-tail, locomote, move, nest, nook, pleasance, pullout, sanctum, sanctum sanctorum, sign, signal, signaling, travel, withdrawal
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