Retract (Verb)
Meaning 1
Use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ).
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The surgeons used forceps to retract the edges of the incision, allowing for clear visibility and access to the affected area.
- Retract the severed skin edges to facilitate the surgical repair and prevent further damage to the surrounding tissue.
- To gain better access to the internal organs, the medical team carefully retracted the soft tissue surrounding the injured area.
- During the procedure, specialized retractors were used to gently retract the sensitive organ, minimizing potential complications and promoting a smooth recovery.
- A combination of forceps and retractors was employed to retract the edges of the surgical site, allowing for precise placement of sutures to complete the repair.
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Meaning 2
Pull away from a source of disgust or fear.
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- She instinctively retracted her hand as soon as she touched the slimy substance.
- The child retracted from the barking dog, tears welling up in her eyes.
- Feeling uneasy, he retracted from the window, not wanting to watch the accident unfold.
- As she saw the grotesque image, she retracted quickly, trying to shake off the feeling of revulsion.
- The tourists retracted from the edge of the cliff, their fear of heights almost unbearable.
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Meaning 3
Pull inward or towards a center; "The pilot drew in the landing gear"; "The cat retracted his claws".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The company will retract the funding for the unsuccessful project.
- The camera retracted into its housing with a soft clicking sound.
- She had to retract her arm quickly to avoid the closing elevator doors.
- The injured turtle retracted its head into the shell for protection.
- The plane's landing gear retracted smoothly into the belly of the aircraft.
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Meaning 4
Formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The politician retracted her previous claims about the economic situation after the data was proven to be false.
- The company's CEO retracted his statement about taking the company public due to unforeseen market changes.
- In the face of mounting opposition, the scientist retracted her research paper and announced a re-examination of the data.
- Under intense scrutiny, the celebrity retracted her endorsement of the health supplement.
- The company retracted its marketing campaign after numerous complaints about racial insensitivity.