1 a [no obj] : to stop a job or career because you have reached the age when you are not allowed to work anymore or do not need or want to work anymore
▪ I want to be healthy when I retire. ▪ She plans to retire (from her job) in two years. ▪ We plan to retire in/to Florida. = We plan to retire and move to Florida. ▪ The boxer retired undefeated.
b [+ obj] : to cause (someone, such as a military officer) to end a job or career — usually used as (be) retired ▪ The general was retired with honors. 2 [no obj] : to stop playing in a game, competition, etc., especially because of injury
▪ She had to retire during the first set because of a muscle strain. 3 [+ obj] : to take (something) out of use, service, or production
▪ The Navy is retiring the old battleship. ▪ The manufacturer plans to retire that car model in a few years. ▪ The team is retiring his jersey number in honor of his great career. 4 [no obj] formal : to move to a different place
▪ He retired to the library to study. ▪ Shall we retire to the parlor? 5 [no obj] literary : to go to bed
▪ She retired for the night. 6 [no obj] formal : to move away from action or danger : retreat
▪ The army was forced to retire from the battlefield. 7 [+ obj] baseball : to cause (a batter) to be out
▪ The pitcher retired seven batters in a row. ▪ She was retired on a fly ball to center field. ▪ He struck out Jones to retire the side. [=to end the inning by getting the final out]