| retreat | |
| 1. n. The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant. | |
| 2. n. The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position. | |
| 3. n. A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security. | |
| 4. n. (rare) An peaceful, quiet place in which to urinate and defecate: an outhouse; a lavatory. | |
| 5. n. A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude. | |
| 6. n. A period of meditation, prayer or study. | |
| 7. n. Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack. | |
| 8. n. A signal for a military withdrawal. | |
| 9. n. A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base. | |
| 10. n. A military ceremony to lower the flag. | |
| 11. n. (chess) The move of a piece from a threatened position. | |
| 12. v. (of military forces) To withdraw from a position, go back. | |
| 13. v. (of a glacier) To shrink back due to generally warmer temperatures. | |
| 14. v. To slope back. | |
| a retreating forehead | |
| 15. v. To treat or deal with (a topic) again or differently. | |
