retreat Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
    • the disorderly retreat of French troops
  2. noun a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
  3. noun (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
  4. noun (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
  5. noun an area where you can be alone
    hideaway.
  6. noun withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
    retirement.
    • the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity
  7. noun the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
  8. verb pull back or move away or backward
    retire; recede; pull back; move back; withdraw; pull away; draw back.
    • The enemy withdrew
    • The limo pulled away from the curb
  9. verb move away, as for privacy
    • The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer
  10. verb move back
    retrograde.
    • The glacier retrogrades
  11. verb make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
    back away; back out; crawfish; pull back; pull in one's horns; crawfish out; withdraw.
    • We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him
    • He backed out of his earlier promise
    • The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns

WordNet

Re*treat" noun
Etymology
F. retraite, fr. retraire to withdraw, L. retrahere; pref. re- re- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Retract, Retrace.
Definitions
  1. The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable.
    In a retreat he otruns any lackey. Shak.
  2. The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a refuge; an asylum.
    He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious retreat. L'Estrange.
    That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat. Dryden.
  3. (Mil. & Naval.) (a) The retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy, or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position. (b) The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat. (c) A signal given in the army or navy, by the beat of a drum or the sounding of trumpet or bugle, at sunset (when the roll is called), or for retiring from action. ✍ A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it differs from a flight.
  4. (Eccl.) (a) A special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises. (b) A period of several days of withdrawal from society to a religious house for exclusive occupation in the duties of devotion; as, to appoint or observe a retreat. Syn. -- Retirement; departure; withdrawment; seclusion; solitude; privacy; asylum; shelter; refuge.
Re*treat" intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Retreated; present participle & verbal noun Retreating
Definitions
  1. To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field.
    The rapid currents drive Towards the retreating sea their furious tide. Milton.

Webster 1913