re·tract [ ri trákt ](past and past participlere·tract·ed, present participlere·tract·ing, 3rd person present singularre·tracts)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive and intransitive verb move, or move something, back inside: to draw something in from an extended position, or be drawn in Cats can retract their claws but dogs can't.
2. transitive and intransitive verb withdraw statement: to withdraw or deny something previously said, published, or promised She has since retracted her earlier statement.
3. intransitive verb move back: to move back from something
4. transitive verb phonetics change vowel sound: to alter a vowel sound by drawing the tongue inward from the lips
[15th century. < Latin retract-, past participle of retrahere "draw back" < trahere "pull"]
