retreat

(rĭ-trēt')
n.

1. 1. The act or process of withdrawing, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant.
   2. The process of going backward or receding from a position or condition gained.
2. A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security. See synonyms at shelter.
3. 1. A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.
   2. A period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, or study: a religious retreat.
4. 1. Withdrawal of a military force from a dangerous position or from an enemy attack.
   2. The signal for such withdrawal.
   3. A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
   4. The military ceremony of lowering the flag.

v., -treat·ed, -treat·ing, -treats.

v.intr.

1. To fall or draw back; withdraw or retire. See synonyms at recede¹.
2. To slope backward.

v.tr. Games
To move (a chess piece) back.

[Middle English retret, from Old French retrait, retret, from past participle of retraire, retrere, to draw back, from Latin retrahere. See retract.]

retreater re·treat'er n.

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noun

1. Something that physically protects, especially from danger: asylum, cover, covert, harbor, haven, protection, refuge, sanctuary, shelter. See attack/defend, safety/danger.
2. The moving back of a military force in the face of enemy attack or after a defeat: fallback, pullback, pullout, retirement, withdrawal. See forward/backward.

verb

1. To move back or away from a point, limit, or mark: ebb, recede, retract, retrocede, retrograde, retrogress. See approach/retreat.
2. To move in a reverse direction: back, backpedal, backtrack, fall back, retrocede, retrograde, retrogress. Idioms: retrace one's steps. See forward/backward.
3. To abandon a former position or commitment: back down (or out), renege. Slang cop out, fink out. See resist/yield.
4. To move back in the face of enemy attack or after a defeat: draw back, fall back, pull back, pull out, retire, withdraw. Idioms: beat a retreat, givegroundway. See forward/backward.

n

Definition: departure
Antonyms: advance, arrival, coming, extension

v

Definition: pull back, go away
Antonyms: advance, face, forge, meet

v. (of an army) withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat: the French retreated in disarray.

n.

1. an act of moving back or withdrawing: a speedy retreat | the army was in retreat.

2. a signal for a military force to withdraw: the bugle sounded a retreat.

3. a military musical ceremony carried out at sunset, originating in the playing of drums and bugles to tell soldiers to return to camp for the night.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

A bugle call sounded when the U. S. flag is being lowered at the end of the day.

IN BRIEF: The act of going away or withdrawing from a place or situation. Also: The pulling back of a military force from the enemy.

Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself. — Hermann Hesse (1877-1962)

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For a list of words related to retreat, see:

• Living Places - retreat: hidden or secluded dwelling
• Types and Techniques of Warfare - retreat: forced withdrawal of troops in face of enemy attack
• Vacations and Interludes - retreat: act of withdrawing into seclusion or retirement; place of refuge or seclusion
• Directions - retreat: draw back from a dangerous situation; flee; turn tail
• Strategy and Tactics - retreat: tactical withdrawal from difficulty or danger
• Practice and Doctrine - retreat: period of seclusion for religious exercises and meditation

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  See crossword solutions for the clue Retreat.

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Dansk (Danish)
v. intr. - trække sig tilbage, trække i land
v. tr. - trække tilbage
n. - tilbagetrækning, tilbagetog, tilflugtssted, hvilehjem

Nederlands (Dutch)
zich terugtrekken, terugtocht, retraite, afzondering

Français (French)
v. intr. - (gén) se retirer, (Mil) se replier, (fig) se retirer (à, dans), se replier, reculer (un glacier, un désert)
v. tr. - ramener (une pièce) (jeux)
n. - retraite, refuge, (Relig) retraite

Deutsch (German)
n. - Rückzug, Zuflucht, Zapfenstreich
v. - sich zurückziehen, zurückweichen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - οπισθοχώρηση, υποχώρηση, άσυλο, καταφύγιο
v. - οπισθοχωρώ, υποχωρώ, αποσύρομαι

Italiano (Italian)
ritirarsi, ritirata, ritiro, rifugio

Português (Portuguese)
n. - retirada (f), recuo (m), abrigo (m)
v. - retirar-se

Русский (Russian)
отходить, отход, уединение, убежище

Español (Spanish)
v. intr. - retirarse, batirse en retirada, replegarse
v. tr. - retirar, mover hacia atrás
n. - retirada, retreta, retiro, refugio

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - reträtt, avgång, fristad, vårdhem
v. - retirera

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
撤退, 退却, 使往后移, 使后退, 降旗号, 撤退信号, 隐退处

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. intr. - 撤退, 退卻
v. tr. - 使往後移, 使後退
n. - 撤退, 降旗號, 撤退信號, 隱退處

한국어 (Korean)
v. intr. - 물러가다, 틀어박히다, 움푹해지다
v. tr. - ~시키다, 뒤로 물리다
n. - 퇴각, 국기 강하식

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 退却, 帰営太鼓, 引きこもること, 隠退, 修養会, 隠棲の地, 別荘
v. - 退く, 退却する, へこむ, 後方に傾斜している, 引く, 退かせる, 後方に傾斜する, 後退させる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) إنسحاب, تراجع, تقهقر (فعل) يتراجع, يتقهقر, ينسحب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮נסוג, נמלט, הסתלק, נסיגה, השתפע לאחור‬
v. tr. - ‮גרם לנסיגה‬
n. - ‮אות נסיגה, תסוגה, מפלט, חוף מבטחים, מקום-מנוחה, התבודדות, חשבון-נפש, תקיעה בחצוצרה בשקיעה (בצבא), טקס הורדת הדגל הכולל תקיעה בחצוצרה, בית-מחסה לקשישים, מוגבלים בשכלם וכו'‬

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