The usual object of retirement (5)
I believe the answer is:
sleep
'retirement' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'the usual object' is the wordplay.
'the usual' becomes 'slee' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'object' becomes 'P' (P is an example).
'slee'+'p'='SLEEP'
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sleep that I've seen before include "Snooze" , "Be dormant" , "Natural state of unconscious rest" , "crash" , "Wayne _; former Royal Ballet principal dancer" .)