retreat

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  After the German Retreat
• WordNet 3.6
  • v retreat make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity "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"
  • v retreat pull back or move away or backward "The enemy withdrew","The limo pulled away from the curb"
  • v retreat move back "The glacier retrogrades"
  • v retreat move away, as for privacy "The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer"
  • n retreat the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
  • n retreat withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation "the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity"
  • n retreat (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"
  • n retreat an area where you can be alone
  • n retreat (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
  • n retreat (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
  • n retreat a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
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Additional illustrations & photos:

Si Beat a Retreat 171

The Exile's Retreat

THE RETREAT OF THE BRITISH FROM THE CONCORD

WASHINGTON'S RETREAT THROUGH NEW JERSEY

• Interesting fact: Dunkirk, France is the site of the largest military evacuation in history. During World War II, some 340,000 Allied troops were evacuated to England. The retreat by sea took place between May 26 and June 4, 1940.
• • Retreat (Eccl) 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 .
  • Retreat (Mil. & Naval) 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.
  • Retreat (Eccl) A special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises.
  • Retreat The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable. "In a retreat he outruns any lackey."
  • Retreat 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 .""That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat."
  • Retreat (Mil. & Naval) 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.
  • Retreat (Mil. & Naval) The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat.
  • v. i Retreat 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."
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• Interesting fact: Rin Tin Tin was born to a war-dog mother in a German trench in France during World War I. Deserted when the Germans retreated, the German shepherd puppy was found by an American officer who happened to be a police-dog trainer from California. During Rin Tin Tin's training after the war, the dog's intelligence came to the attention of Warner Brothers, which signed the dog up for what turned out to be a long career as one of the biggest box-office draws of the silent screen era.
• • n retreat The act of retiring or withdrawing; withdrawal; departure.
  • n retreat Specifically, the retirement, either forced or strategical, of an army before an enemy; an orderly withdrawal from action or position: distinguished from a flight, which lacks system or plan.
  • n retreat The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from action; also, the order or disposition of ships declining an engagement.
  • n retreat A signal given in the army or navy, by beat of drum or sound of trumpet, at sunset, or for retiring from exercise, parade, or action.
  • n retreat Retirement; privacy; a state of seclusion from society or public life.
  • n retreat Place of retirement or privacy; a refuge; an asylum; a place of security or peace.
  • n retreat A period of retirement for religious self-examination, meditation, and special prayer. Synonyms Seclusion, solitude, privacy.
  • retreat To retire; move backward; go back.
  • retreat Specifically, to retire from military action or from an enemy; give way; fall back, as from a dangerous position.
  • retreat In fencing, to move backward in order to avoid the point of the adversary's sword: specifically expressing a quick movement of the left foot a few inches to the rear, followed by the right foot, the whole being so executed that the fencer keeps his equilibrium and is ready to lunge and parry at will.
  • retreat To recede: withdraw from an asserted claim or pretension, or from a course of action previously undertaken.
  • retreat To withdraw to a retreat; go into retirement; retire for shelter, rest, or quiet.
  • retreat To slope backward; have a receding outline or direction: as, a retreating forehead or chin. Synonyms To give way, fall back. All verbs of motion compounded with re- tend to express the idea of failure or defeat; but retreat is the only one that necessarily or emphatically expresses it.
  • retreat To retract; retrace.
  • retreat To reconsider; examine anew.
  • retreat In chess, to move (a piece) backward.
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• Interesting fact: The Beatles song "Dear Prudence" was written about Mia Farrow's sister, Prudence, when she wouldn't come out and play with Mia and the Beatles at a religious retreat in India.
• • n Retreat rē-trēt′ a drawing back or retracing one's steps: retirement: place of privacy: withdrawal: a place of security: a shelter:
  • v.i Retreat to draw back: to recede: to consider: to retire, esp. to a place of shelter: to retire before an enemy or from an advanced position: in fencing, to move back so as to avoid the point of the adversary's sword: to slope back, as a retreating forehead
  • n Retreat rē-trēt′ (mil.) the act of retiring in order from before the enemy, or from an advanced position: the signal for retiring from an engagement or to quarters: a special season of religious meditation
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• William Wycherley

  

  “A mistress should be like a little country retreat near the town, not to dwell in constantly, but only for a night and away.”
• Norman Vincent Peale

  

  “Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.”
• Ferdinand Foch

  

  “My center is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent. I shall attack.”
• Norman Mailer

  

  “Every moment of one's existence one is growing into more or retreating into less. One is always living a little more or dying a little bit.”
• Douglas Macarthur

  

  “We are not retreating - we are advancing in another direction.”
• Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

  

  “Who is sure of their own motives can in confidence advance or retreat.”

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