Overview of noun retreat

The noun retreat has 7 senses

• retreat -- ((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 -- (a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet)


• retreat -- ((military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position)


• retreat -- ((military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset)


• hideaway, retreat -- (an area where you can be alone)


• retirement, retreat -- (withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation; "the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity")


• retreat -- (the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant))

Overview of verb retreat

The verb retreat has 4 senses

• withdraw, retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back, retire, move back -- (pull back or move away or backward; "The enemy withdrew"; "The limo pulled away from the curb")


• retreat -- (move away, as for privacy; "The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer")


• retrograde, retreat -- (move back; "The glacier retrogrades")


• retreat, pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's horns, withdraw -- (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")