retreat
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
retreats
plural
retreats
Britannica Dictionary definition of RETREAT
1
:
movement by soldiers away from an enemy because the enemy is winning or has won a battle
[noncount]
-
The forces are now in (full) retreat.
[count]
-
The army passed through the town on/during its retreat (from the battlefield).
-
He sounded/signaled the retreat. [=made the signal telling soldiers to begin a retreat]
2
[count, noncount]
:
movement away from a place or situation especially because it is dangerous, unpleasant, etc.
-
Some of her friends were surprised by her retreat from public life following her defeat in the election.
-
He made/beat a hasty retreat [=he left quickly] when he realized he had entered the wrong office.
3
[count]
:
the act of changing your opinion or position on something because it is unpopular
— usually singular
-
The mayor was forced to make a retreat from his earlier position.
4
:
the act or process of moving away
— sometimes used figuratively
[count]
— usually singular
-
Scientists continue to measure the slow retreat of the glacier.
-
the retreat of the floodwaters
[noncount]
-
Studies show the glaciers are in retreat.
-
Her political influence has been in retreat since the scandal.
5
a
[count]
:
a place that is quiet and private
-
She went to her mountain retreat for a quiet weekend.
-
an idyllic/island/isolated retreat
b
:
a trip to a place where you can quietly pray, think, study, etc.
[count]
-
We went on a corporate/spiritual retreat.
-
The church offers retreats several times a year.
[noncount]
-
She went on retreat for several weeks last year.
2
retreat
/rɪˈtriːt/
verb
retreats;
retreated;
retreating
2
retreat
/rɪˈtriːt/
verb
retreats;
retreated;
retreating
Britannica Dictionary definition of RETREAT
[no object]
1
:
to move back to get away from danger, attack, etc.
-
When the enemy attacked, our troops were forced to retreat.
-
They retreated behind trees for safety.
2
:
to move or go away from a place or situation especially because it is dangerous, unpleasant, etc.
-
He quickly retreated from the room.
-
After her defeat, she retreated from politics.
3
:
to change your opinion or statement about something because it is unpopular
— usually + from
-
The mayor was forced to retreat from his original position.
4
:
to move backward
-
As the temperatures warm, the glaciers begin to retreat.
-
The floodwaters are retreating.
5
:
to go to a place that is quiet and private
-
They retreated into the next room to talk privately.
