Retract word meaning and definition

[verb] formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs"
[verb] pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws"
[verb] use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)
[verb] shrink back, as in fear

\Re*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Retracted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Retracting}.] [F. r['e]tracter, L. retractare, retractatum, to handle again, reconsider, retract, fr. retrahere, retractum, to draw back. See {Retreat}.] 1. To draw back; to draw up or shorten; as, the cat can retract its claws; to retract a muscle. 2. Ti withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back; as, to retract an accusation or an assertion. I would as freely have retracted this charge of idolatry as I ever made it. --Bp. Stillingfleet. 3. To take back,, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to revoke. [Obs.] --Woodward. Syn: To recal; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant; abjure; disown.
\Re*tract"\, v. i. 1. To draw back; to draw up; as, muscles retract after amputation. 2. To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession or a declaration. She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, Consents, retracts, advances, and then files. --Granville.
\Re*tract"\, n. (Far.) The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a shoe.
\Re*tract"\, n. Retreat. [Obs.] --Bacon.

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