discharge

dis•charge

v. [[t]dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒ[/t]] n. [[t]ˈdɪs tʃɑrdʒ, dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒ[/t]] v. -charged, -charg•ing, n.

1) to relieve of a charge or load; unload:

to discharge a ship[/ex]

2) to remove or send forth:

They discharged the cargo at New York[/ex]

3) mil to fire or shoot (a firearm or missile)

4) to pour forth; emit:

to discharge oil[/ex]

5) to relieve oneself of (an obligation, burden, etc.)

6) to relieve of obligation, responsibility, etc

7) to fulfill, perform, or execute (a duty, function, etc.)

8) to relieve or deprive of office, employment, etc.; dismiss from service

9) to release, send away, or allow to go (often fol. by from):

They discharged him from prison[/ex]

10) to pay (a debt)

11) law

a) to release (a defendant, esp. one under confinement)

b) to release (a bankrupt) from former debts

c) to cancel (a contract)

12) gov to order (a legislative committee) to cease further consideration of a bill so that it can be voted on

13) elm to rid (a battery, capacitor, etc.) of a charge of electricity

14) tex to release or remove (dye or color) from a textile, as by chemical bleaching

15) to get rid of a burden or load

16) to deliver a charge or load

17) to pour forth

18) cvb mil to go off or fire, as a firearm or missile

19) tex to blur or run, as a color or dye

20) elm to lose or give up a charge of electricity

21) the act of discharging a ship, load, etc

22) mil the act of firing a weapon, as a gun, by exploding the charge of powder

23) hyd a sending or coming forth, as of water from a pipe; ejection; emission

24) the rate or amount of such issue

25) something sent forth or emitted

26) a relieving, ridding, or getting rid of something of the nature of a charge

27) law

a) an acquittal or exoneration

b) an annulment, as of a court order

c) the freeing of one held under legal process

28) a relieving or being relieved of obligation or liability; fulfillment of an obligation

29) the payment of a debt

30) a release or dismissal, as from prison, an office, or employment

31) a certificate of such a release or a certificate of release from obligation or liability

32) mil

a) the separation of a person from military service

b) a certificate of such separation

33) elm

a) the removal or transference of an electric charge, as by the conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy

b) the equalization of a difference of potential, as between two terminals

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Etymology: 1300–50; ME deschargen < AF descharger, OF < LL discarricāre= dis- I+carricāre to load; see charge dis•charge′a•ble, adj. dis•charg′er, n. syn: See release