discharge definition | Dictionary.com

dis⋅charge

[v. dis-chahrj; n. dis-chahrj, dis-chahrj]

verb, -charged, -charg⋅ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to relieve of a charge or load; unload: to discharge a ship.

2.	to remove or send forth: They discharged the cargo at New York.

3.	to fire or shoot (a firearm or missile): to discharge a gun.

4.	to pour forth; emit: to discharge oil; to discharge a stream of invective.

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): The children were discharged early from school. They discharged him from prison.

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).

d.	to release (bail).

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

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

14.	Dyeing. to free from a dye, as by chemical bleaching.

–verb (used without object)

15.	to get rid of a burden or load.

16.	to deliver a charge or load.

17.	to pour forth.

18.	to go off or fire, as a firearm or missile.

19.	to blur or run, as a color or dye.

20.	Electricity. to lose or give up a charge of electricity.

–noun

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

22.	the act of firing a weapon, as an arrow by drawing and releasing the string of the bow, or a gun by exploding the charge of powder.

23.	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.	the act or process of ordering a legislative committee to cease further consideration of a bill so that it can be voted on.

33.

Military.

a.	the separation of a person from military service.

b.	a certificate of such separation.

34.

Electricity.

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.

Origin:
1300–50; ME deschargen < AF descharger, OF < LL discarricāre, equiv. to dis- dis- ¹ + carricāre to load; see charge

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : discharge

Spanish:

dar de alta,

German:

entlassen,

Japanese:

解放する

View 30 other languages »

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dis·charge   (dĭs-chärj') Pronunciation Key
v.   dis·charged, dis·charg·ing, dis·charg·es

v.   tr.

1. To relieve of a burden or of contents; unload.
2. To unload or empty (contents).
3. To release, as from confinement, care, or duty: discharge a patient; discharge a soldier.
4. To let go; empty out: a train discharging commuters.
5. To pour forth; emit: a vent discharging steam.
6. To shoot: discharge a pistol.
7. To acquit completely: discharged the defendant.
8. To set aside; annul: discharge a court order.
9. To apportion (weight) evenly, as over a door.
10. To relieve (a part) of excess weight by distribution of pressure.
1. To release, as from confinement, care, or duty: discharge a patient; discharge a soldier.
2. To let go; empty out: a train discharging commuters.
3. To pour forth; emit: a vent discharging steam.
4. To shoot: discharge a pistol.
5. To acquit completely: discharged the defendant.
6. To set aside; annul: discharge a court order.
7. To apportion (weight) evenly, as over a door.
8. To relieve (a part) of excess weight by distribution of pressure.
To remove from office or employment. See Synonyms at dismiss.
To perform the obligations or demands of (an office, duty, or task). See Synonyms at perform.
To comply with the terms of (a debt or promise, for example).
Law
1. To acquit completely: discharged the defendant.
2. To set aside; annul: discharge a court order.
3. To apportion (weight) evenly, as over a door.
4. To relieve (a part) of excess weight by distribution of pressure.
To remove (color) from cloth, as by chemical bleaching.
Electricity To cause the release of stored energy or electric charge from (a battery, for example).
Architecture
1. To apportion (weight) evenly, as over a door.
2. To relieve (a part) of excess weight by distribution of pressure.
To clear the record of the loan of (a returned library book).

v. intr.

To get rid of a burden, load, or weight.
1. To go off; fire: The musket discharged loudly.
2. To pour forth, emit, or release contents.
3. To become blurred, as a color or dye; run.
To undergo the release of stored energy or electric charge.

n. (dĭs'chärj', dĭs-chärj')

The act of removing a load or burden.
The act of shooting or firing a projectile or weapon.
1. A flowing out or pouring forth; emission; secretion: a discharge of pus.
2. The amount or rate of emission or ejection.
3. Something that is discharged, released, emitted, or excreted: a watery discharge.
4. Fulfillment of the terms of something, such as a debt or promise.
5. Performance, as of an office or duty.
6. Dismissal or release from employment, service, care, or confinement.
7. An official document certifying such release, especially from military service.
8. Release of stored energy in a capacitor by the flow of current between its terminals.
9. Conversion of chemical energy to electric energy in a storage battery.
10. A flow of electricity in a dielectric, especially in a rarefied gas.
11. Elimination of net electric charge from a charged body.
The act or an instance of removing an obligation, burden, or responsibility.
1. Fulfillment of the terms of something, such as a debt or promise.
2. Performance, as of an office or duty.
3. Dismissal or release from employment, service, care, or confinement.
4. An official document certifying such release, especially from military service.
5. Release of stored energy in a capacitor by the flow of current between its terminals.
6. Conversion of chemical energy to electric energy in a storage battery.
7. A flow of electricity in a dielectric, especially in a rarefied gas.
8. Elimination of net electric charge from a charged body.
1. Dismissal or release from employment, service, care, or confinement.
2. An official document certifying such release, especially from military service.
3. Release of stored energy in a capacitor by the flow of current between its terminals.
4. Conversion of chemical energy to electric energy in a storage battery.
5. A flow of electricity in a dielectric, especially in a rarefied gas.
6. Elimination of net electric charge from a charged body.
Law An annulment or acquittal; dismissal, as of a court order.
Electricity
1. Release of stored energy in a capacitor by the flow of current between its terminals.
2. Conversion of chemical energy to electric energy in a storage battery.
3. A flow of electricity in a dielectric, especially in a rarefied gas.
4. Elimination of net electric charge from a charged body.

[Middle English dischargen, from Old French deschargier, from Late Latin discarricāre : Latin dis-, dis- + Late Latin carricāre, to load; see charge.]
dis·charge'a·ble adj., dis'charg·ee' n., dis·charg'er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

discharge

c.1330, from O.Fr. deschargier "unload," from L.L. discarricare, from dis- "do the opposite of" + carricare "load." The electrical sense is first attested 1748.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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discharge
noun
1.	the sudden giving off of energy
2.	the act of venting
3.	a substance that is emitted or released
4.	any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body; "the discharge of pus"
5.	electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
6.	the pouring forth of a fluid
7.	the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart) [syn: dismissal]
8.	a formal written statement of relinquishment [syn: release]
9.	the act of discharging a gun
verb
1.	complete or carry out; "discharge one's duties" [syn: dispatch]
2.	pour forth or release; "discharge liquids"
3.	free from obligations or duties [syn: free]
4.	remove the charge from [ant: charge]
5.	go off or discharge; "The gun fired" [syn: fire]
6.	pronounce not guilty of criminal charges; "The suspect was cleared of the murder charges" [syn: acquit] [ant: convict]
7.	eliminate (a substance); "combustion products are exhausted in the engine"; "the plant releases a gas" [syn: exhaust]
8.	leave or unload; "unload the cargo"; "drop off the passengers at the hotel" [syn: drop]
9.	cause to go off; "fire a gun"; "fire a bullet" [syn: fire]
10.	release from military service [ant: draft]
11.	become empty or void of its content; "The room emptied" [syn: empty] [ant: fill]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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discharge (dĭs-chärj') Pronunciation Key
Noun

The conversion of chemical energy to electric energy within a storage battery.
A flow of electricity in a dielectric, especially in a rarefied gas.
A flowing out or pouring forth, as of a bodily fluid; emission or secretion.
A substance or material that is released, emitted, or excreted, especially from the body.

Verb

To undergo or cause the release of stored energy or electric charge, as from a battery or capacitor.
To release, emit, or excrete a substance, especially from the body.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

discharge dis·charge (dĭs-chärj')
v. dis·charged, dis·charg·ing, dis·charg·es

To emit a substance, as by excretion or secretion.
To release a patient from custody or care.
To generate an electrical impulse. Used of a neuron.

n. (dĭs'chärj', dĭs-chärj')

The act of releasing, emitting, or secreting.
A substance that is excreted or secreted.
The generation of an electrical impulse by a neuron.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: ¹dis·charge
Pronunciation: dis(h)-'chärj, 'dis(h)-"
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: dis·charged;dis·charg·ing
transitive senses
1 : to release from confinement, custody, or care <discharge a patient from the hospital>
2a : to give outlet to or emit discharging pus> b : to release or give expression to (a pent-up emotion or a repressed impulse) <dischargedhis anxiety by working out with a punching bag> discharge intransitive senses
: to pour forth fluid or other contents

Main Entry: ²dis·charge
Pronunciation: 'dis(h)-"chärj, dis(h)-'
Function: noun
1 : the act of relieving of something<discharge of a repressed impulse>
2 : release from confinement, custody, or care discharge from the hospital>
3 : something that is emitted or evacuated discharge from a wound> discharge>

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: dis·charge
Pronunciation: dis-'chärj, 'dis-"chärj
Function: transitive verb
1 : to release from an obligation: as a : to relieve of a duty under an instrument (as a contract or a negotiable instrument); also : to render (an instrument) no longer enforceable discharged by either cancellation or surrender —J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo> b : to release (a debtor in bankruptcy) from liability for his or her debts
2 : to release from confinement, custody, or care <discharge a prisoner>
3 a : to dismiss from employment : terminate the employment of b : to release from service or duty <discharge a jury> <discharge a witness>
4 a : to get rid of (as a debt or obligation) by performing an appropriate action b : to fulfill a requirement for discharge the burden of going forward —W. Railroad LaFave and A. W. Scott, Junior>
5 : to order (a legislative committee) to end consideration of a bill in order to bring it before the house for action —dis·charge·abil·i·ty /dis-"chär-j&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun —dis·charge·able /dis-'chär-j&-b&l/ adjective

Main Entry: dis·charge
Pronunciation: 'dis-"chärj
Function: noun
1 a : the act of relieving of something that burdens or oppresses : RELEASE b : something that discharges or releases; especially : a certification of or a document proving release or payment
2 : the state of being discharged or released discharge>
3 : release from confinement discharge of the alien on habeas corpus —Harvard Law Review>
4 : the act of removing an obligation or liability (as by payment of a debt or performance of a duty)
5 a : a dismissal from employment or office

constructive discharge
: discharge of an employee effected by making the employee's working conditions so intolerable that he or she reasonably feels compelled to resign

retaliatory discharge
: a wrongful discharge that is done in retaliation for an employee's conduct (as reporting an employer's criminal activity) and that clearly violates public policy

wrongful discharge
: discharge of an employee for illegal reasons or for reasons that are contrary to public policy (as in retaliation for the employee's refusal to engage in unlawful activity) b : a release from service or duty

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Discharge

Dis*charge"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discharged; p. pr. & vb. n. Discharging.] [OE. deschargen, dischargen, OF. deschargier, F. d['e]charger; pref. des- (L. dis) + chargier, F. charger. See Charge.]

1. To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty of a load or cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel.

2. To free of the missile with which anything is charged or loaded; to let go the charge of; as, to discharge a bow, catapult, etc.; especially, said of firearms, -- to fire off; to shoot off; also, to relieve from a state of tension, as a Leyden jar.

The galleys also did oftentimes, out of their prows, discharge their great pieces against the city. --Knolles.

Feeling in other cases discharges itself in indirect muscular actions. --H. Spencer.

3. To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear.

Discharged of business, void of strife. --Dryden.

In one man's fault discharge another man of his duty. --L'Estrange.

4. To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service; to dismiss.

Discharge the common sort With pay and thanks. --Shak.

Grindal . . . was discharged the government of his see. --Milton.

5. To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty; as, to discharge a prisoner.

6. To put forth, or remove, as a charge or burden; to take out, as that with which anything is loaded or filled; as, to discharge a cargo.

7. To let fly, as a missile; to shoot.

They do discharge their shot of courtesy. --Shak.

8. To set aside; to annul; to dismiss.

We say such an order was "discharged on appeal." --Mozley & W.

The order for Daly's attendance was discharged. --Macaulay.

9. To throw off the obligation of, as a duty or debt; to relieve one's self of, by fulfilling conditions, performing duty, trust, and the like; hence, to perform or execute, as an office, or part.

Had I a hundred tongues, a wit so large As could their hundred offices discharge. --Dryden.

10. To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt or obligation to. [Obs.]

If he had The present money to discharge the Jew. --Shak.

11. To give forth; to emit or send out; as, a pipe discharges water; to let fly; to give expression to; to utter; as, to discharge a horrible oath.

12. To prohibit; to forbid. [Scot. Obs.] --Sir W. Scott.

Discharging arch (Arch.), an arch over a door, window, or other opening, to distribute the pressure of the wall above. See Illust. of Lintel.

Discharging piece, Discharging strut (Arch.), a piece set to carry thrust or weight to a solid point of support.

Discharging rod (Elec.), a bent wire, with knobs at both ends, and insulated by a glass handle. It is employed for discharging a Leyden jar or an electrical battery. See Discharger.

Syn: See Deliver.

Discharge

Dis*charge"\, v. i. To throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden; to unload; to emit or give vent to fluid or other contents; as, the water pipe discharges freely.

The cloud, if it were oily or fatty, would not discharge. --Bacon.

Discharge

Dis*charge"\, n. [Cf. F. d['e]charge. See Discharge, v. t.]

1. The act of discharging; the act of relieving of a charge or load; removal of a load or burden; unloading; as, the discharge of a ship; discharge of a cargo.

2. Firing off; explosive removal of a charge; explosion; letting off; as, a discharge of arrows, of artillery.

3. Act of relieving of something which oppresses or weighs upon one, as an obligation, liability, debt, accusation, etc.; acquittance; as, the discharge of a debtor.

4. Act of removing, or getting rid of, an obligation, liability, etc.; fulfillment, as by the payment of a debt, or the performance of a trust or duty.

Indefatigable in the discharge of business. --Motley.

Nothing can absolve us from the discharge of those duties. --L'Estrange.

5. Release or dismissal from an office, employment, etc.; dismission; as, the discharge of a workman by his employer.

6. Legal release from confinement; liberation; as, the discharge of a prisoner.

7. The state of being discharged or relieved of a debt, obligation, office, and the like; acquittal.

Too secure of our discharge From penalty. --Milton.

8. That which discharges or releases from an obligation, liability, penalty, etc., as a price of ransom, a legal document.

Death, who sets all free, Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge. --Milton.

9. A flowing or issuing out; emission; vent; evacuation; also, that which is discharged or emitted; as, a rapid discharge of water from the pipe.

The hemorrhage being stopped, the next occurrence is a thin serous discharge. --S. Sharp.

Charge and discharge. (Equity Practice) See under Charge, n.

Paralytic discharge (Physiol.), the increased secretion from a gland resulting from the cutting of all of its nerves.

Discharge

Dis*charge"\, v. t. (Textile Dyeing & Printing) To bleach out or to remove or efface, as by a chemical process; as, to discharge the color from a dyed fabric in order to form light figures on a dark ground.

Discharge

Dis*charge"\, n. (Elec.) The equalization of a difference of electric potential between two points. The character of the discharge is mostly determined by the nature of the medium through which it takes place, the amount of the difference of potential, and the form of the terminal conductors on which the difference exists. The discharge may be alternating, continuous, brush, connective, disruptive, glow, oscillatory, stratified, etc.

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