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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back; as, to retract an accusation or an assertion. [ 1913 Webster ]

I would as freely have retracted this charge of idolatry as I ever made it. Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To take back, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to revoke. [ Obs. ] Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To recall; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant; abjure; disown. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To draw back; to draw up; as, muscles retract after amputation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession or a declaration. [ 1913 Webster ]

She will, and she will not; she grants, denies,
Consents, retracts, advances, and then files. Granville. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Far.) The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a shoe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. rétractable. ] Capable of being retracted; retractile. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. retractatus, p. p. of retractare. See Retract. ] To retract; to recant. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. rétractation, L. retractatio a revision, reconsideration. ] The act of retracting what has been said; recantation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Retractable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. -rétractile. ] (Physiol.) Capable of retraction; capable of being drawn back or up; as, the claws of a cat are retractile. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. rétraction, L. retractio a drawing back, hesitation. ] 1. The act of retracting, or drawing back; the state of being retracted; as, the retraction of a cat's claws. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of withdrawing something advanced, stated, claimed, or done; declaration of change of opinion; recantation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Other men's insatiable desire of revenge hath wholly beguiled both church and state of the benefit of all my either retractions or concessions. Eikon Basilike. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physiol.) (a) The act of retracting or shortening; as, the retraction of a severed muscle; the retraction of a sinew. (b) The state or condition of a part when drawn back, or towards the center of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving to retract; of the nature of a retraction. -- Re*tract"ive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]