give the axe vs retire

give the axe and retire both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
give the axe	No	No	Yes	No
retire	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, retire is a hyponym of give the axe; that is, retire is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than give the axe:

give the axe: terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
retire: make (someone) retire

Other hyponyms of give the axe include pension off, clean out, furlough, lay off, squeeze out, dismiss, drop, send away, send packing.

give the axe (verb)	retire (verb)
terminate a relationship abruptly	prepare for sleep
terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position	cause to get out
	cause to be out on a fielding play
	lose interest
	pull back or move away or backward
	dispose of (something no longer useful or needed)
	break from a meeting or gathering
	go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
	withdraw from active participation
	make (someone) retire
	withdraw from circulation or from the market, as of bills, shares, and bonds