retract
pronunciation
How to pronounce retract in British English:
UK [rɪˈtrækt]
How to pronounce retract in American English:
US [rɪˈtrækt]
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- Verb:
- formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
- pull away from a source of disgust or fear
- use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)
- pull inward or towards a center
Word Origin
- retract (v.)
- early 15c., "to draw (something) back," from Old French retracter (14c.) and directly from Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere "to draw back" (see retraction). Sense of "to revoke, recant, take back" is attested from 1540s, probably a back-formation from retraction. Related: Retracted; retracting.
Example
- 1. Intolerant speech is often amplified and impossible to retract .
- 2. The government was quick to retract its offer when red-shirt leaders amended their demands .
- 3. For his part , britain 's prime minister will refuse to retract his comments .
- 4. Zhang was never able to reproduce his seminal work-in part due to the missing notebooks-and had to retract two of his papers in november 2009 .
- 5. Once in the sky , retract the wheels and enjoy the view as the flight instructor offers basic advice on how to manage airspeed , maintain altitude and watch the plane 's heading .