discharge

verb

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dis·charge | \ dis-ˈchärj

, ˈdis-ˌchärj \

discharged; discharging; discharges

Definition of discharge

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to relieve of a charge, load, or burden:

a : unload discharge a cargo ship

b : to release from an obligation will be discharged from further payment

c electrical engineering : to release electrical energy from (something, such as a battery or capacitor) by a discharge (see discharge entry 2 sense 9b) discharging electricity from a battery

2a : 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 vehicles discharging exhaust fumes

3a(1) : to dismiss from employment had to discharge several employees last month

(2) : to release from service or duty discharge a soldier was discharged from the Navy

b : to get rid of (something, such as a debt or obligation) by performing an appropriate action (such as payment) failing to discharge their debts

c law : to set aside or dismiss : annul discharge a court order

d : to order (a legislative committee) to end consideration of a bill (see bill entry 4 sense 6) in order to bring it before the house (see house entry 1 sense 6a) for action

4 : to bear and distribute (something, such 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

1a : to throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden

b : to release electrical energy by a discharge (see discharge entry 2 sense 9b) ensure that the electricity discharges safely

2a : go off, fire —used of a gunHis weapon discharged .

b : spread, run some dyes discharge

c : to pour forth fluid or other contents where the river discharges into the ocean

discharge

noun

dis·charge | \ ˈdis-ˌchärj

, dis-ˈchärj \

Definition of discharge (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : the act of relieving of something that oppresses : release

b : something that discharges or releases especially : a certification of release or payment produced the discharge as evidence

2 : the state of being discharged or relieved

3 : the act of discharging or unloading her discharge from the hospital

4 law : release from confinement a record of prison discharges

5 : a firing off the discharge of a weapon

6a : a flowing or issuing out a discharge of spores a discharge of mucus also : a rate of flow controlling the discharge of water

b : something that is emitted a purulent discharge a clear discharge from the eyes and nose

7 law : the act of removing an obligation or liability (see liability sense 2) received a full discharge from his creditors

8a : release or dismissal especially from an office or employment suing for wrongful discharge

b : complete separation from military service her discharge from the Navy an honorable discharge

9a physics : the equalization of a difference of electric potential (see potential entry 2 sense 2c) between two points

b energy engineering : the conversion of the chemical energy of a battery into electrical energy

Other Words from discharge Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about discharge

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Choose the Right Synonym for discharge

Verb

perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill mean to carry out or into effect. perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill. performed gymnastics execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent. executed the hit-and-run discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks. discharged his duties accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out. accomplished everything they set out to do achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties. achieve greatness effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles. effected sweeping reforms fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities. fulfilled their ambitions

Examples of discharge in a Sentence

Verb She's due to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. We had to discharge several employees last week. Thousands of soldiers were discharged after the war. The judge discharged the jury. The ship discharged missiles against enemy targets. The gun failed to discharge. Noun The doctors approved her discharge from the hospital. Several former employees are suing the company for wrongful discharge. After his discharge from the military, he went to college to become a teacher. The damage was caused by accidental discharge of a hunting rifle. a rapid discharge from a gun

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Another major problem is being able to quickly discharge patients. — Los Angeles Times, "L.A. County hospitals are losing the battle against COVID-19 surge as problems multiply," 6 Jan. 2021 With available resources being stretched thin, hospitals are trying to discharge patients as quickly as possible to free up space for those most in urgent need of care. — oregonlive, "L.A. hospitals ‘having to make very tough decisions about patient care’ as COVID-19 cases soar," 5 Jan. 2021 With available resources being stretched thin, hospitals are trying to discharge patients as quickly as possible to free up space for those most in urgent need of care. — Anchorage Daily News, "L.A. County ambulance operators told not to bring patients to hospital if survival chances are low," 5 Jan. 2021 Over time, owner Imperial Metals struggled to store the ever greater volumes of water and sought to discharge water after all. — Jennifer Bjorhus, Star Tribune, "Success of Twin Metals copper mine hinges on holding every last drop of tainted water," 12 Dec. 2020 Nursing homes are grappling with staff shortages, which have left hospitals unable to discharge patients to their care. — Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, "The Surging Coronavirus Finds a Federal Leadership Vacuum," 11 Nov. 2020 Or making credit-card debt higher to discharge in bankruptcy. — Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, "The Missing Populist," 5 Oct. 2020 Oak Lawn’s ordinance, passed in May and amended this month, is designed to target issues such as sump pump connections that discharge water into the sewer systems rather than outside of the home. — Bill Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Oak Lawn takes aim at private sewer connections with point-of-sale inspections beginning April 1," 20 Dec. 2020 Hospitalizations in Los Angeles County have doubled since the start of December, according to officials, who have pushed to discharge patients and continue care at home to handle the influx of arrivals. — Travis Caldwell, CNN, "'We are getting crushed.' What's behind the alarming rise in California's Covid-19 cases," 18 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Goodwin was charged with possession of unregistered firearms, unlawful discharge of a firearm and assault on a police officer. — Peter Hermann, Washington Post, "D.C. firefighter charged with murder in shooting in Northwest Washington," 11 Dec. 2020 Now that 48 hours notice is given for batch releases at San Onofre, Surfrider intends to collect water samples before, during and after a discharge and send them to Buesseler’s team. — Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, "How safe is the water off the coast of the San Onofre nuclear plant?," 1 Dec. 2020 Heart failure remained higher for women than men for both types of heart attack during hospitalization and also after discharge. — Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, "Women are more likely than men to develop heart failure or die after a heart attack, study says," 30 Nov. 2020 After discharge, David rode to the school where he was celebrated by his school and church family. — Catherine Matos, orlandosentinel.com, "Local teacher receives welcome home parade after 58 days fighting COVID-19 in hospital," 13 Nov. 2020 Notably, a recent study found that one-third of critically ill older adults who survive a stay in the ICU did not receive rehab services at home after hospital discharge. — Judith Graham, CNN, "Senior Covid-19 patients suffer 'brain fog' in drawn-out recovery," 20 Oct. 2020 An Austrian report released this month found that 76 of the first 86 patients studied had evidence of lung damage six weeks after hospital discharge, but that dropped to 48 patients at 12 weeks. — Kaiser Health News, oregonlive, "Post-COVID-19 clinics focus on virus’ long-term physical and mental effects," 1 Oct. 2020 Thursday’s number is expected to be revised in coming days as more complete admissions and discharge data becomes available. — cleveland, "Ohio reports 8,828 new coronavirus cases, for a total of 653,650: Thursday update," 24 Dec. 2020 The report says the greatest source of phosphorus in DuPage is likely storm water runoff from fertilized yards and wastewater discharge from municipal treatment plants. — Suzanne Baker, chicagotribune.com, "Banning some types of fertilizers and sealants will improve Naperville-area rivers, streams: Sierra Club," 24 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discharge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near discharge

discharge coefficient

discharge lamp

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Last Updated

15 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Discharge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discharge. Accessed 21 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for discharge

discharge

verb

English Language Learners Definition of discharge

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to allow (someone) to leave a hospital, prison, etc.

: to take away the job of (someone) : to end the employment of (someone)

: to end the service of (someone) in a formal or official way : to release (someone) from duty

discharge

noun

English Language Learners Definition of discharge (Entry 2 of 2)

: the release of someone from a hospital, prison, etc.

: the act of firing or dismissing someone from a job

: the act of ending a person's service to the military

See the full definition for discharge in the English Language Learners Dictionary

discharge

verb

dis·charge | \ dis-ˈchärj

discharged; discharging

Kids Definition of discharge

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to allow to leave or get off The patient was discharged from the hospital.

2 : to dismiss from service discharge a worker

3 : to free of a load or burden : unload discharge a ship

4 : shoot entry 1 sense 2 discharge a gun

5 : to cause to shoot out of discharge a bullet

6 : to pour forth fluid or other contents The chimney discharged smoke.

7 : to get rid of by paying or doing discharge a debt He discharged his responsibilities.

discharge

noun

dis·charge | \ ˈdis-ˌchärj

Kids Definition of discharge (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the release of someone from a place The doctor approved her discharge from the hospital.

2 : the release from a duty or debt

3 : a certificate of release or payment

4 : the act of firing a person from a job

5 : an end of a person's military service

6 : an act of firing off a gun's discharge

7 : something that flows out The discharge was coming from a pipe.

discharge

verb

dis·charge | \ dis(h)-ˈchärj

, ˈdis(h)-ˌ

discharged; discharging

Medical Definition of discharge

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to release from confinement, custody, or care discharge a patient from the hospital

2a : to give outlet to or emit a boil discharging pus

b : to release or give expression to (a pent-up emotion or a repressed impulse) discharged his anxiety by working out with a punching bag

intransitive verb

: to pour forth fluid or other contents

discharge

noun

dis·charge | \ ˈdis(h)-ˌchärj

, dis(h)-ˈ

Medical Definition of discharge (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act of relieving of something discharge of a repressed impulse

2 : release from confinement, custody, or care returned to work the day after discharge from the hospital

3 : something that is emitted or evacuated a purulent discharge from a wound a thick white vaginal discharge

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discharge

transitive verb

dis·charge | \ dis-ˈchärj, ˈdis-ˌchärj

Legal Definition of discharge

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to release from an obligation: as

a : to relieve of a duty under an instrument (as a contract or a negotiable instrument) also : to render (an instrument) no longer enforceable a formal instrument…may be discharged by either cancellation or surrender — J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo

b : to release (a debtor in bankruptcy) from liability for his or her debts

2 : to release from confinement, custody, or care discharge a prisoner

3a : to dismiss from employment : terminate the employment of

b : to release from service or duty discharge a jury discharge a witness

4a : to get rid of (as a debt or obligation) by performing an appropriate action

b : to fulfill a requirement for evidence which is required to discharge the burden of going forward— W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

5 : to order (a legislative committee) to end consideration of a bill in order to bring it before the house for action

discharge

noun

dis·charge | \ ˈdis-ˌchärj

Legal Definition of discharge (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : the act of relieving of something that burdens or oppresses : release

b : something that discharges or releases especially : a certification of or a document proving release or payment

2 : the state of being discharged or released a party seeking a total discharge

3 : release from confinement ordering a conditional discharge of the alien on habeas corpus — Harvard Law Review

4 : the act of removing an obligation or liability (as by payment of a debt or performance of a duty)

5a : a dismissal from employment or office

— constructive discharge

: discharge of an employee effected by making the employee's working conditions so intolerable that he or she reasonably feels compelled to resign

— retaliatory discharge

: a wrongful discharge that is done in retaliation for an employee's conduct (as reporting an employer's criminal activity) and that clearly violates public policy

— wrongful discharge

: discharge of an employee for illegal reasons or for reasons that are contrary to public policy (as in retaliation for the employee's refusal to engage in unlawful activity)

b : a release from service or duty

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