retract
Use Retract in a sentence
verb (used with object)
1.
to draw back or in: to retract fangs.
verb (used without object)
2.
to draw back within itself or oneself, fold up, or the like, or to be capable of doing this: The blade retracts.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used with object)
1.
to withdraw (a statement, opinion, etc.) as inaccurate or unjustified, especially formally or explicitly; take back.
2.
to withdraw or revoke (a decree, promise, etc.).
verb (used without object)
3.
to draw or shrink back.
4.
to withdraw a promise, vow, etc.
5.
to make a disavowal of a statement, opinion, etc.; recant.
Origin:
1535–45; < Latin retractāre to reconsider, withdraw, equivalent to re- re- + tractāre to drag, pull, take in hand (frequentative of trahere to pull)
1535–45; < Latin retractāre to reconsider, withdraw, equivalent to re- re- + tractāre to drag, pull, take in hand (frequentative of trahere to pull)
Related forms
re·tract·a·ble, re·tract·i·ble, adjective
re·tract·a·bil·i·ty, re·tract·i·bil·i·ty, noun
trækˈteɪ un·re·tract·a·ble, adjective
Synonyms
1, 2. deny, renounce, recant, abrogate, nullify, annul.
1, 2. deny, renounce, recant, abrogate, nullify, annul.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To retract
00:10
Retract
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is incipient. Does it mean:
| beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage: |
| the final issue, the conclusion, or the result: |
Collins
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
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
retract
early 15c., "to draw (something) back;" see retraction. Sense of "to revoke, withdraw" is attested from 1540s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
The agent also said the reporter tried to get the newspaper to retract the item.
It is a well know basic of logic that there is no way to retract what has been proved in logical theory.
The authors have therefore agreed to retract their paper.
We may need to retract the service if traffic is too high, but we're happy to have you use it for building a proof-of-concept.
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