Definition of: retract

(ri·trakt′) v.t. & v.i.
1. To take back (an assertion, accusation, admission, etc.); make a disavowal (of); recant.
2. To draw back or in, as the claws of a cat. See synonyms under RECANT, RENOUNCE. [<F rétracter <L retractare draw back <re- back + tractare draw violently, freq. of trahere draw]
—re·tract′a·ble or ·i·ble adjective
—re·trac·ta·tion (rē′trak·tā′shən) noun