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   retreat

   /rɪˈtriːt/

   verb

   • 1. (of an army) withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat: "the French retreated in disarray" Similar withdrawretiredraw backpull backpull outfall backgive waygive groundrecoilfleetake flightbeat a retreatbeat a hasty retreatrun awayrun offmake a run for itrun for itmake offtake offtake to one's heelsmake a break for itboltmake a quick exitclear outmake one's getawayescapehead for the hillsinformal:beat itvamooseskedaddlesplitcut and runshow a clean pair of heelsturn tailscramhook itfly the coopskip offdo a fadedo a runnerscarperdo a bunkleg itlight outbug outcut outpeel outtake a powderskiddoogo throughshoot througharchaic:flylevantOpposite advancedig in
   • ▪ move back or withdraw: "it becomes so hot that the lizards retreat into the shade" Similar go outebbrecedeflow outfallgo downOpposite come in
   • ▪ withdraw to a quiet or secluded place: "after the funeral he retreated to Scotland"
   • ▪ change one's mind or plans as a result of criticism or difficulty: "his proposals were clearly unreasonable and he was forced to retreat" Similar change one's decisionchange one's mindchange one's attitudechange one's plansback downclimb downdo a U-turnbacktrackback-pedalrow backretractreconsidereat one's wordseat humble piegive inconcede defeatshift one's grounddo an about-turn
   • ▪ (of shares) decline in value: "the company reported healthy figures but the shares retreated"
   • ▪ move (a piece) back from a forward or threatened position on the board.

   noun

   • 1. an act of moving back or withdrawing: "a speedy retreat" Similar withdrawalpulling backflightrare:katabasisOpposite advance
   • ▪ an act of changing one's mind or plans as a result of criticism or difficulty: "the trade unions made a retreat from their earlier position" Similar climbdownbackdownretractionconcessionabout-faceU-turnrowbackabout-turn
   • 2. a signal for a military force to withdraw: "the bugle sounded a retreat"
   • ▪ 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.
   • 3. a quiet or secluded place in which one can rest and relax: "their country retreat in Ireland" Similar refugehavenresortasylumsanctuarysanctum sanctorumhideawayhideouthiding placecottagedachasheltercabindenlairnestinformal:hidey-hole
   • ▪ a period or place of seclusion for the purposes of prayer and meditation: "the bishop is away on his annual retreat" Similar seclusionwithdrawalretirementsolitudeisolationhidingprivacysanctuaryrare:sequestrationreclusion
   • 4. a decline in the value of shares: "a gloomy stock market forecast sent share prices into a rapid retreat"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French retret (noun), retraiter (verb), from Latin retrahere ‘pull back’ (see retract).

   Scrabble Points: 7

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