usage: (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat; "the disorderly retreat of French troops"
2. retreat, area, country
usage: a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
3. retreat, signal, signaling, sign
usage: (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
4. retreat, bugle call
usage: (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
5. hideaway, retreat, area
usage: an area where you can be alone
6. retirement, retreat, withdrawal
usage: withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation; "the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity"
7. retreat, withdrawal
usage: the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
4. retreat, pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's horns, withdraw
usage: make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity; "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"