1. (

• 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" ;

2. (

• retreat

) a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet ;

3. (

• retreat ,

) (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position ;

4. (

• retreat

) (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset ;

5. (

• hideaway ,
• retreat

) an area where you can be alone ;

6. (

• retirement ,
• retreat ,

) withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation; "the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity" ;

7. (

• retreat ,

) the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant) ;

1. (

• 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" ;

2. (

• retreat ,

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

3. (

• retrograde ,
• retreat ,

) move back; "The glacier retrogrades" ;

4. (

• 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" ;