discharge

verb

dis·charge | \ dis-ˈchärj

, ˈdis-ˌchärj\

discharged; discharging; discharges

Definition of discharge

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to relieve of a charge, load, or burden:

a : unload discharge a cargo ship

b : to release from an obligation will be discharged from further payment

c electrical engineering : to release electrical energy from (something, such as a battery or capacitor) by a discharge (see discharge entry 2 sense 9b) discharging electricity from a battery

2a : to let or put off discharge passengers discharge cargo

b : shoot discharge an arrow

c : to release from confinement, custody, or care discharge a prisoner discharge a patient

d : to give outlet or vent to : emit discharge emotions vehicles discharging exhaust fumes

3a(1) : to dismiss from employment had to discharge several employees last month

(2) : to release from service or duty discharge a soldier was discharged from the Navy

b : to get rid of (something, such as a debt or obligation) by performing an appropriate action (such as payment) failing to discharge their debts

c law : to set aside or dismiss : annul discharge a court order

d : to order (a legislative committee) to end consideration of a bill (see bill entry 4 sense 6) in order to bring it before the house (see house entry 1 sense 6a) for action

4 : to bear and distribute (something, such as the weight of a wall above an opening)

5 : to bleach out or remove (color or dye) in dyeing and printing textiles

6 : to cancel the record of the loan of (a library book) upon return

intransitive verb

1a : to throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden

b : to release electrical energy by a discharge (see discharge entry 2 sense 9b) ensure that the electricity discharges safely

2a : go off, fire —used of a gun His weapon discharged .

b : spread, run some dyes discharge

c : to pour forth fluid or other contents where the river discharges into the ocean

discharge

noun

dis·charge | \ ˈdis-ˌchärj

, dis-ˈchärj\

Definition of discharge (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : the act of relieving of something that oppresses : release

b : something that discharges or releases especially : a certification of release or payment produced the discharge as evidence

2 : the state of being discharged or relieved

3 : the act of discharging or unloading her discharge from the hospital

4 law : release from confinement a record of prison discharges

5 : a firing off the discharge of a weapon

6a : a flowing or issuing out a discharge of spores a discharge of mucus also : a rate of flow controlling the discharge of water

b : something that is emitted a purulent discharge a clear discharge from the eyes and nose

7 law : the act of removing an obligation or liability (see liability sense 2) received a full discharge from his creditors

8a : release or dismissal especially from an office or employment suing for wrongful discharge

b : complete separation from military service her discharge from the Navy an honorable discharge

9a physics : the equalization of a difference of electric potential (see potential entry 2 sense 2c) between two points

b energy engineering : the conversion of the chemical energy of a battery into electrical energy

discharge

Definition of discharge

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