What does retreat mean?
Definitions for retreat
rɪˈtritre·treat
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word retreat.
Princeton's WordNet
retreat(noun)
(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"
retreat(noun)
a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
retreat(noun)
(military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
retreat(noun)
(military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
hideaway, retreat(noun)
an area where you can be alone
retirement, retreat(noun)
withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
"the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity"
retreat(verb)
the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
withdraw, retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back, retire, move back(verb)
pull back or move away or backward
"The enemy withdrew"; "The limo pulled away from the curb"
retreat(verb)
move away, as for privacy
"The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer"
retrograde, retreat(verb)
move back
"The glacier retrogrades"
retreat, pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's horns, withdraw(verb)
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"
Wiktionary
retreat(Noun)
The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy, or security.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
A period of meditation, prayer or study
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
A signal for a military withdrawal.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
A military ceremony to lower the flag.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Verb)
To withdraw military forces.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
retreat(Noun)
Move (a piece) from threatetned position.
Etymology: From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).
Webster Dictionary
Retreat(noun)
the act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable
Retreat(noun)
the place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a refuge; an asylum
Retreat(noun)
the retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy, or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position
Retreat(noun)
the withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat
Retreat(noun)
a signal given in the army or navy, by the beat of a drum or the sounding of trumpet or bugle, at sunset (when the roll is called), or for retiring from action
Retreat(noun)
a special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises
Retreat(noun)
a period of several days of withdrawal from society to a religious house for exclusive occupation in the duties of devotion; as, to appoint or observe a retreat
Retreat(verb)
to make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field
Freebase
Retreat
The meaning of a spiritual retreat can be different for different religious communities. Spiritual Retreats are an integral part of many Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Sufi communities. In Hinduism and Buddhism, Meditative Retreats are seen by some as integral for reconnection to one's self. Retreats are also popular in Christian churches, and were established in today's form by St. Ignatius of Loyola, in his Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius was later to be made patron saint of spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922. Many Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Christians partake in and organize spiritual retreats each year. Meditative retreats are an important practice in Sufism, the mystical path of Islam. The Sufi teacher Ibn Arabi's book Journey to the Lord of Power is a guide to the inner journey that was published over 700 years ago.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Retreat
rē-trēt′, n. a drawing back or retracing one's steps: retirement: place of privacy: withdrawal: a place of security: a shelter: (mil.) the act of retiring in order from before the enemy, or from an advanced position: the signal for retiring from an engagement or to quarters: a special season of religious meditation.—v.i. to draw back: to recede: to consider: to retire, esp. to a place of shelter: to retire before an enemy or from an advanced position: in fencing, to move back so as to avoid the point of the adversary's sword: to slope back, as a retreating forehead.—ns. Retreat′er; Retreat′ment. [O. Fr. retrete—L. retractus, pa.p. of retrahĕre.]
Dictionary of Nautical Terms
retreat
The order in which a fleet or squadron declines engagement. Or the retrograde movement of any body of men who retire from a hostile force. Also, that beat of drum about sunset which orders the guards and piquets to take up their night duties.
Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
retreat
The retrograde movement of any army or body of men who retire from the enemy. It signifies a more prolonged and systematic movement to the rear than retire. Full retreat is when an army retires with all expedition before a conquering enemy. The retreat is also a beat of the infantry drums, or sounding of the bugles or trumpets, which takes place every day at sunset, and at which troops fall in and the roll is called; the details for duty the following day, and orders, are published. To retreat is to make a retrograde movement. An army or body of men are said to retreat when they turn their backs upon the enemy, or are retiring from the ground they occupied; hence, every march in withdrawing from an enemy is called a retreat.
British National Corpus
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'retreat' in Nouns Frequency: #2883
Anagrams for retreat »
tree rat
treater
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of retreat in Chaldean Numerology is: 5
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of retreat in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of retreat in a Sentence
Life is like a chess game, and I am but a mere pawn that against all odds moves forward in the face of any danger in the hope of one day becoming a greater than i am. Like a pawn I only move forward towards my goal and do not under any circumstances go back or retreat. I aim at achieving excellence through hard work and dedication to the job at hand. Even when all seems impossible and out of reach I believe that failure is not an option but a stepping stone towards achieving my dreams.
Nowhere can a man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.
I would like those bishops to get fired. Not to be taken to a golden retreat, not to be given another job, like the Vatican library. If they covered up abuse they don't deserve to be working as a bishop and running a diocese.
The decision was taken to retreat from the house, without Guzman, to try to avoid more violence in the area and preserve the lives of our personnel and recover calm in the city.
Whether it's Hillary Clinton, whether it's San Bernardino, whether it's race and law enforcement, he recognized the issues before him, understanding the symbolism of his role as FBI director rather than retreat as many in Washington do when faced with tough issues, he realized that a true leader has to work their in-box and they have to make tough decisions.
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Translations for retreat
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- تراجعArabic
- ústup, útočiště, ustoupitCzech
- RückzugGerman
- αποτραβιέμαιGreek
- retirarse, retiroSpanish
- عقب نشینیPersian
- peräytyäFinnish
- retraite, battre en retraiteFrench
- cuilidhScottish Gaelic
- पीछे हटनाHindi
- mundurIndonesian
- hörfaIcelandic
- ritirarsiItalian
- לָסHebrew
- 退却する, 後退するJapanese
- 후퇴하다Korean
- pedem referreLatin
- retraiteDutch
- wycofać sięPolish
- retirar-se, retiroPortuguese
- отступление, ретироваться, отступать, отступитьRussian
- retireraSwedish
- rút luiVietnamese
- 撤退Chinese
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"retreat." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 17 Jan. 2021. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/retreat>.