Definition of retire

• v. t. - To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.
• v. t. - To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.
• v. t. - 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.
• v. i. - 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.
• v. i. - To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.
• v. i. - To withdraw from a public station, or from business; as, having made a large fortune, he retired.
• v. i. - To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.
• v. i. - To go to bed; as, he usually retires early.
• n. - The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires.
• n. - A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.