retreat vs throng

retreat

noun
  • The move of a piece from a threatened position. 

  • A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security. 

  • The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position. 

  • A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base. 

  • A military ceremony to lower the flag. 

  • A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude. 

  • A period of meditation, prayer or study. 

  • The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant. 

  • A signal for a military withdrawal. 

  • Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack. 

verb
  • To slope back. 

  • To withdraw military forces 

  • To shrink back due to generally warmer temperatures. 

  • To withdraw from a position, go back. 

  • a retreating forehead 

throng

noun
  • A group of things; a host or swarm. 

  • A group of people crowded or gathered closely together. 

verb
  • To crowd or press, as persons; to oppress or annoy with a crowd of living beings. 

  • To congregate. 

  • To crowd into a place, especially to fill it. 

adj
  • Filled with persons or objects; crowded. 

  • Busy; hurried. 

How often have the words retreat and throng occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )