Retreat - Definition

n 1: (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: a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
3: (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous
position
4: (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at
sunset
5: an area where you can be alone [syn: hideaway, retreat]
6: withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation; "the
religious retreat is a form of vacation activity" [syn:
retirement, retreat]
7: the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to
escape something hazardous or unpleasant) [ant: advance,
advancement, forward motion, onward motion,
procession, progress, progression]
v 1: pull back or move away or backward; "The enemy withdrew";
"The limo pulled away from the curb" [syn: withdraw,
retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back,
retire, move back] [ant: advance, go on, march
on, move on, pass on, progress]
2: move away, as for privacy; "The Pope retreats to
Castelgondolfo every summer"
3: move back; "The glacier retrogrades" [syn: retrograde,
retreat]
4: 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" [syn: retreat, pull back, back
out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's
horns, withdraw]