- discharge
- discharge [dis chärj′; ] also, & for n., usually [ dis′chärj΄]vt.discharged, discharging [ME dischargen < OFr descharger < VL * discarricare, to unload < L dis-, from + carrus, wagon, CAR1]1. to relieve of or release from something that burdens or confines; specif.,a) to remove the cargo of (a ship); unloadb) to release the charge of (a gun); firec) to release (a soldier, jury, etc.) from dutyd) to dismiss (a special committee) after it has reported to the legislature of which it is a parte) to dismiss from employmentf) to release (a prisoner) from jail, (a defendant) from suspicion, (a patient) as cured, (a debtor or bankrupt) from obligations, etc.2. to release or remove (that by which one is burdened or confined); specif.,a) to unload (a cargo)b) to shoot (a projectile)c) to remove (dye) from cloth3. to relieve oneself or itself of (a burden, load, etc.); specif.,a) to throw off; send forth; emit [to discharge pus]b) to get rid of; acquit oneself of; pay (a debt) or perform (a duty)4. Archit.a) to relieve (a wall, etc.) of excess pressure by distribution of weightb) to distribute (weight) evenly over a supporting part☆ 5. Elec. to remove stored energy from (a battery or capacitor)vi.1. to get rid of a burden, load, etc.2. to be released or thrown off3. to fire; go off: said of a gun, etc.4. to emit waste matter: said of a wound, etc.5. to run: said of a dye6. to lose or give off a stored electrical chargen.[OFr descharge < the v.]1. a discharging or being discharged2. that which discharges, as a legal order for release, a certificate of dismissal from military service, etc.3. that which is discharged, as pus from a sore4. a flow of electric current across a gap, as in a spark or arcSYN.- FREEdischargeableadj.dischargern.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.