retract
To pull back or back insideTo pull (something) back or back inside.
» I would like to retract my previous statement.
Ich würde gerne meine vorhergehende Erklärung widerrufen.
Я хотел бы взять назад своё предыдущее заявление.
Я хотела бы взять назад своё предыдущее заявление.
Я хотів би забрати мою попередню заяву.
Meaning
13 senses(transitive)To pull (something) back or back inside.
An airplane retracts its wheels for flight.
втягиватьvtjagivatʹ, вбира́тьvbirátʹ
pull inward or towards a center
To pull (something) back or back inside.
(specifically, transitive)To draw (an extended body part) back into the body.
A cat can retract its claws.
(rare, transitive)To avert (one's eyes or a gaze).
(transitive)To pronounce (a sound, especially a vowel) farther to the back of the vocal tract.
(intransitive)To draw back; to draw up; to withdraw.
The bus was stuck at the stop as its wheelchair ramp wouldn’t retract after use.
Muscles retract after amputation.
(obsolete, transitive)To hold back (something); to restrain.
(obsolete, transitive)To cancel or take back (something, such as an edict or a favour or grant previously bestowed); to rescind, to revoke.
(obsolete, transitive)To break or fail to keep (a promise, etc.); to renege.
(obsolete, transitive)To take back or withdraw (something that has been said or written); to disavow, to repudiate.
I retract all the accusations I made about the senator and sincerely hope he won’t sue me.
(obsolete, transitive)Originally in chess and now in other games as well: to take back or undo (a move); specifically (card games) to take back or withdraw (a card which has been played).
(intransitive, obsolete)To decline or fail to do something promised; to break one's word.
(intransitive, obsolete)Of something said or written (such as published academic work): to take back or withdraw.
Examples
18 sentencesI would like to retract my previous statement.
Я хотів би забрати мою попередню заяву.
ruЯ хотел бы взять назад своё предыдущее заявление.
deIch würde gerne meine vorhergehende Erklärung widerrufen.
Tom retracted his confession.
The cat retracted its claws.
deDie Katze zog ihre Krallen ein.
I won't retract that statement.
Tom didn't retract his statement.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back, recover; to hold back, restrain, withhold; to remove, take away; to bring to light again; (Late Latin) to delay”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + trahō (“to drag, pull; to extract, withdraw”). Doublet of retreat.
From Middle French rétracter (“to annul; to reconsider; to withdraw”) (modern French rétracter (“to retract; to contract”)), and from its etymon Latin retractāre, the present active infinitive of retractō (“to retract, withdraw; to annul, revoke; to detract from; to undertake again; to reconsider; to remember; to decline, refuse”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + tractō (“to drag, haul, tug”) (from trahō (“to drag, pull; to extract, withdraw”) + -tō (frequentative suffix forming verbs)).
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Forms
retracts, retracting, retracted, retractedSynonyms
22 synonymsAntonyms
5 antonymsWord family
20 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle