4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Retreat  \Re*treat"\,  n.  [F.  retraite,  fr  retraire  to  withdraw, 
  L.  retrahere  pref.  re-  re-  +  trahere  to  draw.  See  {Trace}, 
  and  cf  {Retract},  {Retrace}.] 
  1.  The  act  of  retiring  or  withdrawing  one's  self  especially 
  from  what  is  dangerous  or  disagreeable. 
 
  In  a  retreat  he  o?truns  any  lackey.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  The  place  to  which  anyone  retires;  a  place  or  privacy  or 
  safety;  a  refuge;  an  asylum. 
 
  He  built  his  son  a  house  of  pleasure,  and  spared  no 
  cost  to  make  a  delicious  retreat.  --L'Estrange. 
 
  That  pleasing  shade  they  sought,  a  soft  retreat  From 
  sudden  April  showers,  a  shelter  from  the  heat. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  3.  (Mil.  &  Naval.) 
  a  The  retiring  of  an  army  or  body  of  men  from  the  face 
  of  an  enemy,  or  from  any  ground  occupied  to  a  greater 
  distance  from  the  enemy,  or  from  an  advanced  position. 
  b  The  withdrawing  of  a  ship  or  fleet  from  an  enemy  for 
  the  purpose  of  avoiding  an  engagement  or  escaping 
  after  defeat. 
  c  A  signal  given  in  the  army  or  navy,  by  the  beat  of  a 
  drum  or  the  sounding  of  trumpet  or  bugle,  at  sunset 
  (when  the  roll  is  called),  or  for  retiring  from 
  action 
 
  Note:  A  retreat  is  properly  an  orderly  march,  in  which 
  circumstance  it  differs  from  a  flight. 
 
  4.  (Eccl.) 
  a  A  special  season  of  solitude  and  silence  to  engage  in 
  religious  exercises. 
  b  A  period  of  several  days  of  withdrawal  from  society  to 
  a  religious  house  for  exclusive  occupation  in  the 
  duties  of  devotion;  as  to  appoint  or  observe  a 
  retreat. 
 
  Syn:  Retirement;  departure;  withdrawment;  seclusion; 
  solitude;  privacy;  asylum;  shelter;  refuge. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Retreat  \Re*treat"\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Retreated};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Retreating}.] 
  To  make  a  retreat;  to  retire  from  any  position  or  place  to 
  withdraw;  as  the  defeated  army  retreated  from  the  field. 
 
  The  rapid  currents  drive  Towards  the  retreating  sea 
  their  furious  tide.  --Milton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  retreat 
  n  1:  (military)  withdrawal  to  a  more  favorable  position 
  2:  a  place  of  privacy;  a  place  affording  peace  and  quiet 
  3:  (military)  a  signal  to  begin  a  withdrawal  from  a  dangerous 
  position 
  4:  (military)  a  bugle  call  signaling  the  lowering  of  the  flag 
  at  sunset 
  5:  a  area  where  you  can  be  alone  [syn:  {hideaway}] 
  6:  withdrawal  for  prayer  and  study  and  meditation;  "a  religous 
  retreat"  [syn:  {retirement}] 
  v  1:  pull  back  or  move  away  or  backward;  "The  enemy  withdrew"; 
  "The  limo  pulled  away  from  the  curb"  [syn:  {withdraw},  {pull 
  away},  {draw  back},  {recede},  {pull  back},  {retire},  {move 
  back}] 
  2:  move  away  as  for  privacy;  "The  Pope  retreats  to 
  Castelgondolfo  every  summer" 
  3:  move  back  "The  glacier  retrogrades"  [syn:  {retrograde}] 
  4:  make  a  retreat;  "We'll  have  to  crawfish  out  from  meeting 
  with  him";  "He  backed  out  of  his  earlier  promise"  [syn:  {back 
  out},  {back  away},  {crawfish},  {crawfish  out},  {withdraw}] 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Retreat,  TX  (town,  FIPS  61616) 
  Location:  32.05130  N,  96.47709  W 
  Population  (1990):  334  (131  housing  units) 
  Area:  12.9  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 

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