retract (redirected from retractability)

re·tract  (r-trkt)

v. re·tract·ed, re·tract·ing, re·tracts

v.tr.

1. To take back; disavow: refused to retract the statement.

2. To draw back or in: a plane retracting its landing gear. See Synonyms at recede¹.

3. Linguistics

a. To utter (a sound) with the tongue drawn back.

b. To draw back (the tongue).

v.intr.

1. To take something back or disavow it.

2. To draw back.

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[Latin retractre, to revoke, frequentative of retrahere, to draw back : re-, re- + trahere, to draw. V., tr., senses 2 and 3, and v., intr., sense 2, Middle English retracten, from Old French retracter, from Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere.]

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re·tracta·bili·ty, re·tracti·bili·ty n.

re·tracta·ble, re·tracti·ble adj.

retrac·tation (rtrk-tshn) n.

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retract

Verb

1. to withdraw (a statement, charge, etc.) as invalid or unjustified

2. to go back on (a promise or agreement)

3. to draw in (a part or appendage): the rear wheels are retracted for tight spaces [Latin retractare to withdraw]

retraction n

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	retract - formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs" abjure, forswear, recant, resile repudiate, disown, renounce - cast off; "She renounced her husband"; "The parents repudiated their son"
	2.	retract - pull away from a source of disgust or fear shrink back cringe, flinch, funk, quail, recoil, wince, shrink, squinch - draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"
	3.	retract - use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ) draw back, pull back pull - apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion; "Pull the rope"; "Pull the handle towards you"; "pull the string gently"; "pull the trigger of the gun"; "pull your knees towards your chin"
	4.	retract - pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws" draw in attract, pull in, draw in, pull, draw - direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes; "Her good looks attract the stares of many men"; "The ad pulled in many potential customers"; "This pianist pulls huge crowds"; "The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers" attract, pull in, draw in, pull, draw - direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes; "Her good looks attract the stares of many men"; "The ad pulled in many potential customers"; "This pianist pulls huge crowds"; "The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers" introvert, invaginate - fold inwards; "some organs can invaginate"

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retract

verb 1. withdraw, take back, revoke, disown, deny, recall, reverse, cancel, repeal, renounce, go back on, repudiate, rescind, renege on, back out of, disavow, recant, disclaim, abjure, eat your words, unsay

verb 2. draw in, pull in, pull back, reel in, sheathe

Translations

retract [rɪˈtrækt] vt [+ statement] → retirar [+ claws]; retraer [+ undercarriage, aerial]; replegar

vi → retractarse

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retract [rɪˈtrækt] vt [+ statement, claws] → rétracter [+ undercarriage, aerial]; rentrer, escamoter

vi → se rétracter; rentrer

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retract [rɪˈtrækt] vt (promise) → zurücknehmen;

(confession) → zurückziehen;

(claws, undercarriage) → einziehen

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retract [rɪˈtrækt] vt [+ statement] → ritrattare [+ claws, undercarriage, aerial]; ritrarre, ritirare

vi → ritrarsi