discharged; discharging; discharges
Definition of discharge
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
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
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
discharge
nounDefinition of discharge (Entry 2 of 2)
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
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Time Traveler for discharge
The first known use of discharge was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century