(n.) The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially
from what is dangerous or disagreeable.
(n.) The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or
safety; a refuge; an asylum.
(n.) 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.
(n.) The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the
purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat.
(n.) 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.
(n.) A special season of solitude and silence to engage in
religious exercises.
(n.) 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.
(v. i.) To make a retreat; to retire from any position or
place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field.
