I. rə̇ˈtī(ə)r, rēˈ-, -īə verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French retirer, from re- + tirer to draw, pull, from Old French — more at tirade
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to withdraw from action or danger : retreat
the raiders retired by this route — H.L.Merillat
ordered his command to retire — American Guide Series: Louisiana
b. : to give ground in fencing : take a step back
c. : to cease batting in cricket and leave the field (as when dismissed or injured)
2. : to withdraw, go away, or betake oneself especially for the sake of privacy, seclusion, or protection : go into retreat
the men usually remain at table or retire to the library — June Platt
the alligator is generally considered as disposed to retire from man — Encyc. Americana
retire to the nearest wineshop — Norman Douglas
retired to comb his hair — John Pudney
retired to a cloister — H.O.Taylor
3. : to move, fall, or bend back : recede or appear to recede
retired a few yards — William Black
plants and animals … closely followed the retiring ice — John Muir †1914
4. : to withdraw from office, public station, business, occupation, or active duty
retire from the diplomatic service
retire from the editorship
retire as a soldier
retire from the sea
5. : to go to bed
perhaps she was tired and would like to retire — P.B.Kyne
transitive verb
1.
a. : withdraw
b. : to march (a military force) away from the enemy especially in order to avoid decisive combat
2. : to draw or pull back
retire a needle
3. obsolete : to remove or bring by or as if by leading
4.
a. : to withdraw from circulation or from the market : take up or pay : recall , redeem
the bonds would be retired inside the Treasury's walls — G.B.Robinson
unwanted currency is returned to the Federal Reserve banks where it is either retired or held for future demand — J.A.Leavitt & C.O.Hanson
retire a loan
retire a bond
retire stock
retire indebtedness
retire a note
b. : to withdraw from usual use or service
retire this poor land from agriculture and plant extensive forests — American Guide Series: Ind.
worn-out equipment was retired from service — Yrbk. of Railroad Information
5.
a. : to cause to retire
any employee who has served at least 15 years is automatically retired at the end of the month in which he reaches age 70 — Your Retirement System
once a man is put on a committee, he stays on it … until the voters retire him — Bruce Catton
b. : to release from active duty and place on the retired list
retire a military officer
6. : to put out (a batter or side) in baseball or cricket
Synonyms: see go
II. noun
( -s )
: retirement , withdrawal ; also : a place to which one retires