/ rɪˈliːs; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
[ vn ]
SET SB / STH FREE
1.
release sb/sth (from sth) to let sb/sth come out of a place where they have been kept or trapped :
to release a prisoner / hostage
Firefighters took two hours to release the driver from the wreckage.
( figurative )
STOP HOLDING STH
2.
to stop holding sth or stop it from being held so that it can move, fly, fall, etc. freely
SYN let go , let loose :
He refused to release her arm.
10 000 balloons were released at the ceremony.
Intense heat is released in the reaction.
FEELINGS
3.
to express feelings such as anger or worry in order to get rid of them :
She burst into tears, releasing all her pent-up emotions.
FREE SB FROM DUTY
4.
release sb (from sth) to free sb from a duty, responsibility, contract, etc. :
The club is releasing some of its older players.
The new law released employers from their obligation to recognize unions.
PART OF MACHINE
5.
to remove sth from a fixed position, allowing sth else to move or function :
to release the clutch / handbrake / switch, etc.
MAKE LESS TIGHT
6.
to make sth less tight :
You need to release the tension in these shoulder muscles.
MAKE AVAILABLE
7.
to make sth available to the public :
Police have released no further details about the accident.
to release a movie / book / CD
new products released onto the market
8.
to make sth available that had previously been restricted :
The new building programme will go ahead as soon as the government releases the funds.
■ noun
SETTING SB / STH FREE
1.
[ U , sing. ] release (of sb) (from sth) the act of setting a person or an animal free; the state of being set free :
The government has been working to secure the release of the hostages.
She can expect an early release from prison.
MAKING STH AVAILABLE
2.
[ U , sing. ] the act of making sth available to the public :
The new software is planned for release in April.
The movie goes on general release (= will be widely shown in cinemas / movie theaters) next week.
3.
[ C ] a thing that is made available to the public, especially a new CD or film / movie :
the latest new releases
OF GAS / CHEMICAL
4.
[ U , C ] the act of letting a gas, chemical, etc. come out of the container where it has been safely held :
the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
to monitor radiation releases
FROM UNPLEASANT FEELING
5.
[ U , sing. ] the feeling that you are free from pain, anxiety or some other unpleasant feeling :
a sense of release after the exam
I think her death was a merciful release.
—see also press release
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French reles (noun), relesser (verb), from Latin relaxare stretch out again, slacken, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus lax, loose.