I. ˈrēˌtāl; in sense 2 rə̇ˈt- or rēˈt-, esp before pause or consonant -āəl verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English retailen, from Middle French retaillier to cut off, diminish, divide into pieces, from Old French, from re- + tailler to cut — more at tailor
transitive verb
1. : to sell in small quantities (as the single yard, pound, gallon) : to sell directly to the ultimate consumer
retail cloth
retail groceries
2. : to relate in detail or to one person after another : tell again or again and again
retail a conversation
retail gossip
retail story
intransitive verb
: to sell at retail
a book that retails for $10
II. ˈrēˌtāl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, cut, piece, from Old French, from retaillier to cut off; influenced in meaning by Middle English retailen to retail
: the sale of commodities or goods in small quantities to ultimate consumers — opposed to wholesale
•
- at retail
III. adjective
: of, relating to, or engaged in the sale of commodities at retail
retail trade
retail merchant
retail business
retail selling
retail price
IV. adverb
: in small quantities : from a retailer
a blend costing five cents more a pound retail — W.H.Ukers
cartridge sells retail for less — E.T.Canby