Retreat

(-trēt'.) [From Fr. retraire.] (Mil.) The orderly retiring movement of a military force from a battle-field, or from any position before the enemy.- A signal given by beat of drum or blast of trumpet for soldiers to retire to their quarters: -correlative to reveille.-(Eccl.) In the Rom. Cath. Church, a specially allotted period of seclusion and silence, to be employed in meditation and devotion. [s. 765]