I. ri-ˈlēs verb
( re·leased ; re·leas·ing )
Etymology: Middle English relesen, from Anglo-French relesser, from Latin relaxare to relax
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude
release hostages
release pent-up emotions
release the brakes
also : to let go : dismiss
released from her job
2. : to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses
was released from her promise
3. : to give up in favor of another : relinquish
release a claim to property
4. : to give permission for publication, performance, exhibition, or sale of ; also : to make available to the public
the commission released its findings
release a new movie
intransitive verb
: to move from one's normal position (as in football or basketball) in order to assume another position or to perform a second assignment
Synonyms: see free
• re·leas·able -ˈlē-sə-bəl adjective
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English reles, from Anglo-French, from relesser
Date: 14th century
1. : relief or deliverance from sorrow, suffering, or trouble
2.
a. : discharge from obligation or responsibility
b.
(1) : relinquishment of a right or claim
(2) : an act by which a legal right is discharged ; specifically : a conveyance of a right in lands or tenements to another having an estate in possession
3.
a. : the act or an instance of liberating or freeing (as from restraint)
b. : the act or manner of concluding a musical tone or phrase
c. : the act or manner of ending a sound : the movement of one or more vocal organs in quitting the position for a speech sound
d. : the action or manner of throwing a ball
has a quick release
4. : an instrument effecting a legal release
5. : the state of being freed
6. : a device adapted to hold or release a mechanism as required
7.
a. : the act of permitting performance or publication ; also : performance , publication
became a best seller on its release
b. : the matter released ; especially : a statement prepared for the press