re'tractible
World English Dictionary
retract (rɪˈtrækt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | (tr) to draw in (a part or appendage): a snail can retract its horns; to retract the landing gear of an aircraft |
| 2. | to withdraw (a statement, opinion, charge, etc) as invalid or unjustified |
| 3. | to go back on (a promise or agreement) |
| 4. | (intr) to shrink back, as in fear |
| 5. | phonetics to modify the articulation of (a vowel) by bringing the tongue back away from the lips |
| [C16: from Latin retractāre to withdraw, from tractāre to pull, from trahere to drag] | |
| re'tractable | |
| —adj | |
| re'tractible | |
| —adj | |
| retracta'bility | |
| —n | |
| retractibility | |
| —n | |
| retractation | |
| —n | |
| re'tractive | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
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00:10
Re'tractible
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
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