I. dis-ˈchärj, ˈdis-ˌ verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French descharger, from Late Latin discarricare, from Latin dis- + Late Latin carricare to load — more at charge
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to relieve of a charge, load, or burden:
a. : unload
discharge a cargo ship
b. : to release from an obligation
c. : to release electrical energy from (as a battery or capacitor) by a discharge
2.
a. : to let or put off
discharge passengers
discharge cargo
b. : shoot
discharge an arrow
c. : to release from confinement, custody, or care
discharge a prisoner
discharge a patient
d. : to give outlet or vent to : emit
discharge emotions
3.
a.
(1) : to dismiss from employment
(2) : to release from service or duty
discharge a soldier
b. : to get rid of (as a debt or obligation) by performing an appropriate action (as payment)
c. : to set aside : annul
d. : to order (a legislative committee) to end consideration of a bill in order to bring it before the house for action
4. : to bear and distribute (as the weight of a wall above an opening)
5. : to bleach out or remove (color or dye) in dyeing and printing textiles
6. : to cancel the record of the loan of (a library book) upon return
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden
b. : to release electrical energy by a discharge
2.
a. : go off , fire — used of a gun
b. : spread , run
some dyes discharge
c. : to pour forth fluid or other contents
Synonyms: see perform
• dis·charge·able -jə-bəl adjective
• dis·charg·ee (ˌ)dis-ˌchär-ˈjē noun
• dis·charg·er dis-ˈchär-jər, ˈdis-ˌ noun
II. ˈdis-ˌchärj, dis-ˈ noun
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : the act of relieving of something that oppresses : release
b. : something that discharges or releases ; especially : a certification of release or payment
2. : the state of being discharged or relieved
3. : the act of discharging or unloading
4. : legal release from confinement
5. : a firing off
6.
a. : a flowing or issuing out
a discharge of spores
also : a rate of flow
b. : something that is emitted
a purulent discharge
7. : the act of removing an obligation or liability
8.
a. : release or dismissal especially from an office or employment
b. : complete separation from military service
9.
a. : the equalization of a difference of electric potential between two points
b. : the conversion of the chemical energy of a battery into electrical energy