a withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; retreat; as, the recess of the tides.-the state of being withdrawn; seclusion; privacy.-remission or suspension of business or procedure; intermission, as of a legislative body, court, or school.-part of a room formed by the receding of the wall, as an alcove, niche, etc.-a place of retirement, retreat, secrecy, or seclusion.-secret or abstruse part; as, the difficulties and recesses of science.-a sinus.-to make a recess in; as, to recess a wall.-a decree of the imperial diet of the old german empire.