Re*tract" (r&esl;*trākt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retracting.] [F. rétracter, L. retractare, retractatum, to handle again, reconsider, retract, fr. retrahere, retractum, to draw back. See Retreat.] 1. To draw back; to draw up or shorten; as, the cat can retract its claws; to retract a muscle.

2. To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back; as, to retract an accusation or an assertion.

I would as freely have retracted this charge of idolatry as I ever made it.

3. To take back,, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to revoke. [Obs.] Woodward.

Syn. -- To recall; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant; abjure; disown.

Re*tract", v. i. 1. To draw back; to draw up; as, muscles retract after amputation.

2. To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession or a declaration.

She will, and she will not; she grants, denies,
Consents, retracts, advances, and then files.

Re*tract", n. (Far.) The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a shoe.

Re*tract" (r&esl;*trākt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retracting.] [F. rétracter, L. retractare, retractatum, to handle again, reconsider, retract, fr. retrahere, retractum, to draw back. See Retreat.] 1. To draw back; to draw up or shorten; as, the cat can retract its claws; to retract a muscle.

2. To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back; as, to retract an accusation or an assertion.

I would as freely have retracted this charge of idolatry as I ever made it.

3. To take back,, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to revoke. [Obs.] Woodward.

Syn. -- To recall; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant; abjure; disown.

Re*tract", v. i. 1. To draw back; to draw up; as, muscles retract after amputation.

2. To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession or a declaration.

She will, and she will not; she grants, denies,
Consents, retracts, advances, and then files.

Re*tract", n. (Far.) The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a shoe.

• to pull back inside (for example, an airplane retracting its wheels while flying)
  
• to take back or withdraw something one has said
       I retract all the accusations I made about the senator and sincerely hope he won't sue me.