Word: retire Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle French retirer (“draw back”), from Old French retirer, built from re- (“back”) + tirer (“draw, pull”), the latter from Vulgar Latin *tīrāre, of highly uncertain origin. Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈtaɪə/, /ɹəˈtaɪɹ/ 1. To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness. Labels: intransitive Example: Having made a large fortune, he retired. Example: He wants to retire at 55. 2. To stop playing their sport and in competitions a sports player. Labels: intransitive Example: I have decided to retire from football at the end of the season after the World Cup. Example: I have decided to retire from test cricket at 45. 3. To withdraw; to take away. Labels: reflexive, sometimes, transitive Example: He […] retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest. Example: As when the sun is present all the year, / And never doth retire his golden ray. 4. To cease use or production of something. Labels: transitive Example: The steamship made thousands of trips over several decades before it was retired by the shipping company. Example: When a hurricane becomes so deadly or destructive that future use would be insensitive, officials may retire the name of the hurricane. 5. To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay. Labels: transitive Example: The central bank retired those notes five years ago. 6. To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list. Labels: transitive Example: The board retired the old major. Example: How had it felt, at 28, to be the hottest young actor in town? He [Richard Gere] grinned. “It was great having the attention,” he said. “I thought: ‘This is it! I’ve done it! I’m going to retire my father. I’m putting money away for college for my sisters,’ the whole thing. It’s incredibly euphorious. All of a sudden the rehearsal period of your life is over, and your future has arrived. It’s liberating.” 7. To voluntarily stop batting before being dismissed so that the next batsman can bat. Labels: intransitive Example: Jones retired in favour of Smith. 8. To make a play which results in a runner or the batter being out, either by means of a put out, fly out or strikeout. Also, when such an event ends a team's turn at bat. Labels: transitive Example: Jones retired Smith 6-3. Example: Jones makes the catch for the third out, and that retires the side. 9. To go back or return; to withdraw or retreat, especially from public view; to go into privacy. Labels: intransitive Example: I will retire to the study. Example: to retire from the world 10. To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure. Labels: intransitive Example: to retire from battle Example: The regiment retired from the fray after the Major was killed. 11. To recede; to fall or bend back. Labels: intransitive Example: Past the point, the shore retires into a sequence of coves. 12. To go to bed. Labels: intransitive Example: I will retire for the night. Example: In the daytime the beds are made up but completely out of sight, giving the passenger a comfortable little private room; as the time for retiring comes, after preparing for rest in the same spacious conditions, he is able, practically at a touch, to pull the bed into position ready for use.