Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of firing a weapon: The release or firing of a projectile from a gun or other weapon.
   • A formal release or dismissal: The act of releasing someone from a duty, obligation, or employment.
   • The emission or release of a substance: The process of a substance flowing out or being released from a container or the body.
   • The release of electricity: The flow of electricity through a gas or from a battery.
   • The completion of a duty: The act of carrying out or fulfilling a responsibility.

2. Verb:

   • To release or let out: To allow a substance (like liquid, gas, or electricity) to flow out.
   • To fire a weapon: To cause a gun or similar device to fire.
   • To release from duty or service: To formally allow someone to leave a job, the military, or a legal obligation.
   • To perform a duty: To carry out or complete a task or responsibility.
   • To unload: To remove cargo from a vehicle or ship.
   • To pronounce innocent: To officially state that someone is not guilty of a charge.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The loud discharge of the cannon startled everyone.
  • He received an honorable discharge from the army.
  • The factory was fined for the illegal discharge of chemicals into the river.
  • The battery has a slow discharge rate.

• Verb:

  • The wound began to discharge pus.
  • Do not discharge the firearm in a populated area.
  • The soldier was discharged after serving for ten years.
  • It is your duty to discharge your responsibilities faithfully.
  • The ship will discharge its cargo at the port tomorrow.
  • The court discharged the defendant of all charges.

Advanced Usage

• "To discharge one's duties": To perform one's official tasks or obligations.

  • The manager failed to discharge her duties properly.

• "To discharge a debt": To pay off a debt in full.

  • He took out a loan to discharge his existing debts.

• "To be discharged from hospital": To be officially allowed to leave a hospital after treatment.

  • The patient was discharged from hospital in stable condition.

Variants and Related Words

• Discharger (n): A person or device that causes a discharge.

  • The electrostatic discharger safely grounded the component.

• Dischargeable (adj): Capable of being discharged, especially a debt.

  • Some taxes are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Synonyms

• Release (v): To set free or allow to flow out.
• Emit (v): To produce and discharge something, especially gas or radiation.
• Fire (v): To discharge a weapon or projectile.
• Dismiss (v): To order or allow to leave; to remove from a job.
• Excrete (v): To discharge waste matter from the body.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Discharge into: To flow or release something into a particular place.

  • The sewer discharges into the sea.

• Discharge from: To be officially released or dismissed from an institution or duty.

  • He was discharged from his position due to misconduct.

Related Idioms

• To get one's discharge: To be dismissed or released, often from employment or military service.

  • After the incident, he was lucky to get his discharge without a court-martial.

• The discharge of a duty: The fulfillment or performance of a responsibility.

  • The discharge of his duty required great personal courage.

Noun

1. the act of discharging a gun
2. a formal written statement of relinquishment
3. the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
4. the pouring forth of a fluid
5. electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
6. any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body
   • the discharge of pus
7. a substance that is emitted or released
8. the act of venting
9. the sudden giving off of energy

Verb

1. become empty or void of its content
   • The room emptied
2. release from military service
3. cause to go off
   • fire a gun
   • fire a bullet
4. leave or unload
   • unload the cargo
   • drop off the passengers at the hotel
5. eliminate (a substance)
   • combustion products are exhausted in the engine
   • the plant releases a gas
6. pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
   • The suspect was cleared of the murder charges
7. go off or discharge
   • The gun fired
8. remove the charge from
9. free from obligations or duties
10. pour forth or release
    • discharge liquids
11. complete or carry out
    • discharge one's duties