pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws"
To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back; as, to retract an accusation or an assertion
When a part of a machine or a part of a person's body retracts or is retracted, it moves inwards or becomes shorter. Torn muscles retract, and lose strength, structure, and tightness
If you retract something that you have said or written, you say that you did not mean it. Mr Smith hurriedly sought to retract the statement, but it had just been broadcast on national radio He's hoping that if he makes me feel guilty, I'll retract. + retraction retractions re·trac·tion Miss Pearce said she expected an unqualified retraction of his comments within twenty four hours. = withdrawal
{f} annul, cancel; recant; withdraw, take back; retreat, draw back, pull back; pull inward; use a surgical device to keep open the edges of an organ or wound
To pull back inside (for example, an airplane retracting its wheels while flying)
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs"