#1
retract v. [
abjure, recant, forswear, resile] formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs"
. wn #2
retract v. [
shrink back] pull away from a source of disgust or fear
. wn #3
retract v. [
pull back, draw back] use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)
. wn #4
retract v. [
draw in] pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws"
. wn