release
/ɹəˈliːs/ noun, verb
Forms releases releasing released
- noun The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
- noun (software) The distribution, either public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product.
- noun Anything recently released or made available (as for sale). “The video store advertised that it had all the latest releases.”
- noun That which is released, untied or let go. “They marked the occasion with a release of butterflies.”
- noun (law) The giving up of a claim, especially a debt.
- noun Liberation from pain or suffering.
- noun (biochemistry) The process by which a chemical substance is set free.
- noun (phonetics, sound synthesis) The act or manner of ending a sound.
- verb (transitive) To let go of; to cease to hold or contain. “He released his grasp on the lever.”
- verb (transitive) To make available to the public. “They released the new product later than intended.”
- verb (transitive) To free or liberate; to set free. “He was released after two years in prison.”
- verb (transitive) To discharge. “They released thousands of gallons of water into the river each month.”
- verb (transitive, telephony) (of a call) To hang up. “If you continue to use abusive language, I will need to release the call.”
- verb (transitive, law) To let go, quit (a legal claim); to discharge or relinquish a right to (lands or buildings) by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession.
- verb (transitive) To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of.
- verb (transitive, soccer) To set up; to provide with a goalscoring opportunity.
- verb (transitive) To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.
Synonyms
alleviation relief comfort consolation ease liss respite solace climax satisfaction acme big O completion crisis happy ending pleasure quietus liberation freeing handout press release dismissal dismission discharge firing sack sacking passing loss departure
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.
- verb To let loose again; to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude; to give liberty to, or to set at liberty; to let go. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. Mark xv. 6.
- verb To relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses, as from pain, trouble, obligation, penalty.
- noun The act of letting loose or freeing, or the state of being let loose or freed; liberation or discharge from restraint of any kind, as from confinement or bondage. "Who boast'st release from hell." Milton.
Etymology [Pref. re + lease to let.]
Etymology [OE. relessen, OF. relassier, to release, to let free. See Relay, n., Relax, and cf. Release to lease again.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “release”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details