retract

What it means

1. transitiveTo pull (something) back or back inside.

   An airplane retracts its wheels for flight.

   1 more example

   The collector shoes are automatically retracted when the electric handle is moved from "service off" to "lock off".

   1962 June, “The Design of the S.R. Electro-diesels”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allen Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 393

   Synonyms: pull back

   1. specificallytransitivebiologyTo draw (an extended body part) back into the body.

      A cat can retract its claws.

      Synonyms: pull back · Antonyms: extend, protrude

2. raretransitiveTo avert (one's eyes or a gaze).

In a sentence

An airplane retracts its wheels for flight.

Where it comes from

1. Latinretrahō“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back, recover; to hold back, restrain, withhold; to remove, take away; to bring to light again; (Late Latin) to delay”
2. Latinretractus“withdrawn”
3. Middle Englishretracten
4. Englishretract

From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back, recover; to hold back, restrain, withhold; to remove, take away; to bring to light again; (Late Latin) to delay”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + trahō (“to drag, pull; to extract, withdraw”). Doublet of retreat.