v. & n.
v.tr. 1 (often foll. by from) set free; liberate, unfasten. 2 allow to move from a fixed position. 3 a make (information, a recording, etc.) publicly or generally available. b issue (a film etc.) for general exhibition. 4 Law a remit (a debt). b surrender (a right). c make over (property or money) to another.
n. 1 deliverance or liberation from a restriction, duty, or difficulty. 2 a handle or catch that releases part of a mechanism. 3 a document or item of information made available for publication (press release). 4 a a film or record etc. that is released. b the act or an instance of releasing or the process of being released in this way. 5 Law a the act of releasing (property, money, or a right) to another. b a document effecting this. releasable adj. releasee n. (in sense 4 of v.). releaser n. releasor n. (in sense 4 of v.).
[ ME f. OF reles (n.), relesser (v.), relaiss(i)er f. L relaxare: see RELAX ]