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retail

 - 5 dictionary results

re⋅tail

[ree-teyl for 1–4, 6; ri-teyl for 5]
–noun
1. the sale of goods to ultimate consumers, usually in small quantities (opposed to wholesale ).
–adjective
2. pertaining to, connected with, or engaged in sale at retail: the retail price.
–adverb
3. in a retail quantity or at a retail price.
–verb (used with object)
4. to sell at retail; sell directly to the consumer.
5. to relate or repeat in detail to others: to retail scandal.
–verb (used without object)
6. to be sold at retail: It retails at 50 cents.

Origin:
1375–1425; (n.) late ME < AF: a cutting, deriv. of retailler to cut, equiv. to re- re- + tailler to cut (see tail 2 ); (v.) ME retailen < OF retailler


re⋅tail⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To retail
re·tail   (rē'tāl')   
n.  The sale of goods or commodities in small quantities directly to consumers.
adj.  Of, relating to, or engaged in the sale of goods or commodities at retail.
adv.  
  1. In retail quantities.

  2. At a retail price.

v.   re·tailed, re·tail·ing, re·tails

v.   tr.
  1. To sell in small quantities directly to consumers.

  2. also (rĭ-tāl') To tell or repeat (gossip or stories, for example) to others.

v.   intr.
To sell at retail.

[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, variant of Old French, piece cut off, from retaillier, to cut up : re-, re- + tailler, to cut; see tailor.]
re'tail'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

retail

A term describing businesses that sell goods directly to individuals. (Compare wholesale.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

retail  (v.)
1365 (implied in retailing), from O.Fr. retaillier "to cut off, pare, clip, divide," from re- "back" + taillier "to cut, trim" (see tailor). Sense of "recount, tell over again" is first recorded 1594. The noun meaning "sale in small quantities" is from 1433, from M.Fr. retail "piece cut off, shred, scrap, paring."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

retail

The sale of securities to individual investors, as opposed to sales to institutions and transactions among broker-dealer firms for eventual sale to retail clients. Compare wholesale.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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