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| re·treat [ ri trt ] |
noun (plural re·treats) |
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| Definition: |
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1. movement back: a movement away from danger or a confrontation, back along the original route
  The bear had the hunters in full retreat.
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2. withdrawal from position: a withdrawal from a position or point of view to one intended to lessen conflict
their retreat from a previously inflexible position
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3. troop withdrawal: a withdrawal of military forces following a defeat or preceding a change of position
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4. signal to move back: a signal, usually a bugle call or drumbeat, telling soldiers to perform a retreat
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5. quiet time: a period of quiet rest and contemplation in a secluded place
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6. quiet place: a quiet secluded place where people go for rest and privacy
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7. safe place: a place where people or animals go to avoid danger or capture
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8. special hospital: a place for the long-term care and treatment of people who are incapable of caring for themselves
(
dated
)
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9. religion period of seclusion: a period away from normal activities, devoted to prayer and meditation, often spent in a religious community
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10. military flag-lowering ceremony: the ceremony of lowering the flag at a military institution, or the signal given to lower the flag
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verb (past and past participle re·treat·ed, present participle re·treat·ing, 3rd person present singular re·treats) |
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| Definition: |
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1. intransitive verb move back: to move back away from danger or a confrontation
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2. intransitive verb withdraw from position: to withdraw from a position or point of view to one intended to lessen conflict
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3. intransitive verb make military withdrawal: to withdraw following a defeat or prior to a change of position
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4. intransitive verb recede: to recede or fall back from a previous position
when the glaciers retreated
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5. transitive verb chess move piece back: to move a chesspiece back to an earlier position
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| [13th century. < Old French retret< past participle of retraire< Latin retrahere (see retract)] |
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| re·treat·er noun |
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beat a (hasty) retreat
1. to leave, especially in a hurry
2. U.S. to back down or take something back that was said
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