(~s, releasing, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If a person or animal is ~d from somewhere where they have been locked up or looked after, they are set free or allowed to go.
He was ~d from custody the next day...
He was ~d on bail.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed from n, be V-ed
2.
When someone is ~d, you refer to their ~.
He called for the immediate ~ of all political prisoners.
N-COUNT: with supp
3.
If someone or something ~s you from a duty, task, or feeling, they free you from it. (FORMAL)
Divorce ~s both the husband and wife from all marital obligations to each other...
This ~s the teacher to work with individuals who are having extreme difficulty.
VERB: V n from n, V n
•
Release is also a noun.
...~ from stored tensions, traumas and grief...
N-UNCOUNT: also a N, oft N from N
4.
To ~ feelings or abilities means to allow them to be expressed.
Becoming your own person ~s your creativity...
VERB: V n
•
Release is also a noun.
She felt the sudden sweet ~ of her own tears.
N-UNCOUNT
5.
If someone in authority ~s something such as a document or information, they make it available.
They’re not releasing any more details yet...
VERB: V n
•
Release is also a noun.
Action had been taken to speed up the ~ of cheques.
N-COUNT: with supp
6.
If you ~ someone or something, you stop holding them. (FORMAL)
He stopped and faced her, releasing her wrist.
VERB: V n
7.
If you ~ a device, you move it so that it stops holding something.
Wade ~d the hand brake and pulled away from the curb.
VERB
8.
If something ~s gas, heat, or a substance, it causes it to leave its container or the substance that it was part of and enter the surrounding atmosphere or area.
...a weapon which ~s toxic nerve gas...
VERB: V n
•
Release is also a noun.
Under the agreement, ~s of cancer-causing chemicals will be cut by about 80 per cent.
N-COUNT: with supp
9.
When an entertainer or company ~s a new CD, video, or film, it becomes available so that people can buy it or see it.
He is releasing an album of love songs.
VERB: V n
10.
A new ~ is a new CD, video, or film that has just become available for people to buy or see.
Which of the new ~s do you think are really good?
N-COUNT
11.
If a film or video is on ~ or on general ~, it is available for people to see in public cinemas or for people to buy.
The video has sold three million copies in its first three weeks on ~.
N-UNCOUNT: on N
12.
see also day ~ , news ~ , press ~