Retire Definition

rĭ-tīr

retired, retires, retiring

verb

retired, retires, retiring

To withdraw or move in retreat.

To retire troops from an action.

Webster's New World

To give up one's work, business, career, etc., esp. because of advanced age.

Webster's New World

To go to bed.

Webster's New World

To take up or pay off (stocks, bonds, bills, etc.)

Webster's New World

To give ground, as in battle; retreat; withdraw.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

(rare) The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires.

Wiktionary

(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.

Wiktionary

Origin of Retire

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 Germanic 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

From Wiktionary
French retirer to retreat from Old French to take back re- re- tirer to draw tier¹

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition