Retire

Pronunciation

UK IPA: /É¹É™ËˆtaÉª.É™(É¹)/}
Rhymes: -aÉªÉ™(r)

Origin

From Middle French retirer ("draw back"), from prefix re- ("back"), + verb tirer ("draw, pull"), from Old French tirer, tirier ("to draw out, arrange, adorn"), from tire, tiere ("row, rank, order, dress") of origin akin to Old English and Old Saxon tÄ«r ("fame, glory, ornament"), Old English tÄ«er ("rank, row"), Old High German ziari, zÄ“ri ("ornament"), German Zier ("ornament, adornment"), German zieren ("to adorn"). More at tier

Full definition of retire

Noun

retire

(plural retires)

(rare) The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires.
(dated) A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.At the retire, the cavalry fell back.

Verb

(transitive) To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.

Sir Philip SidneyHe ... retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest.
Sir J. DaviesAs when the sun is present all the year,
And never doth retire his golden ray.

(transitive) To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.The central bank retired those notes five years ago.
(transitive) To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list; as, to retire a military or naval officer.The board retired the old major.
(transitive, cricket, of a batsman) to voluntarily stop batting before being dismissed so that the next batsman can batJones retired in favour of Smith.
(transitive, baseball, of a fielder), to make a defensive play which results in a runner or the batter being put outJones retired Smith 6-3.
(intransitive) To go back or return; to draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw or retreat, as from observation; to go into privacy; as, to retire to his home; to retire from the world, or from notice.I will retire to the study.''
(intransitive) To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.The regiment retired from the fray after the Major was killed.
(intransitive) To withdraw from a public station, from working, or from businessHaving made a large fortune, he retired.He wants to retire at 55.
(intransitive) To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.Past the point, the shore retires into a sequence of coves.
(intransitive) To go to bed; as, he usually retires early.I will retire for the night.