retract (v.)formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure;
He retracted his earlier statements about his religion
retract (v.)pull away from a source of disgust or fear;
Synonyms: shrink back
retract (v.)use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ);
Synonyms: pull back / draw back
retract (v.)pull inward or towards a center;
The cat retracted his claws
Synonyms: draw in
