retail Hear it!

retail definition

re·tail (rē′tāl′; for vt.2, usually ri tāl′)

noun

the sale of goods or articles individually or in small quantities directly to the consumer

Etymology: ME retaile < OFr retaille, lit., a cutting < retailler, to cut up < re-, again + tailler, to cut: see tailor

adjective

of, connected with, or engaged in the sale of goods at retail

adverb

in relatively small quantities or at a retail price

transitive verb

  1. to sell individually or in small quantities; sell directly to the consumer
  2. to repeat or pass on (gossip, secrets, etc.) to others

Etymology: ME retaylen

intransitive verb

to be sold at retail books that retail at a dollar

Related Forms:

retail Idioms

at retail

directly to the consumer at retail prices

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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