definition of
[retract]

[1] #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] #2 retract v. [shrink back] pull away from a source of disgust or fear. wn

[3] #3 retract v. [pull back, draw back] use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ). wn

[4] #4 retract v. [draw in] pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws". wn