discharge

1 a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece the thunderous discharge of the cannons Synonyms blasting, shot, firingRelated Words potshot; barrage, blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment, broadside, burst, cannonade, drumfire, fusillade, hail, salvo, shower, storm, volley

2 a freeing from an obligation or responsibility a full discharge from responsibility for the accident Synonyms delivery, release, quietus, quittanceRelated Words dispensation, exemption, immunity, waiver

3 the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily she was resentful over what she felt was a wrongful discharge Synonyms ax (or axe), layoff, dismissal, furlough, redundancy [chiefly British]Related Words pink slip; bird [chiefly British], boot, bum's rush, downsizing, firing, heave-ho, sack; closing, shutdown; shakeout, shake-upNear Antonyms callback, recall, reemployment, rehire, rehiring

4 the doing of an action aided in the discharge of his duties by a capable assistant Synonyms accomplishment, achievement, commission, enactment, execution, fulfillment (or fulfilment), implementation, performance, perpetration, prosecution, pursuanceRelated Words dispatch, expedition; administration, direction, handling, management; application, operation, practice (also practise)Antonyms nonfulfillment, nonperformance

1 to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force Robert Goddard was the first to discharge a rocket containing an instrument package Synonyms blast, shoot, fire, loose, squeeze offRelated Words launch, project; blaze (at), snipe (at); cast, catapult, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, lob, pelt, pitch, sling, throw, toss

2 to empty or rid of cargo docks for discharging containerships Synonyms disburden, unload, disencumber, off-load, unburden, unlade, unpackRelated Words free, lighten, relieve; clear, empty, evacuate, vacate, voidNear Antonyms charge, cram, fill, heap, jam, jam-pack, stuffAntonyms load, pack

3 to give what is owed for discharge a debt in full Synonyms ante up, balance, clear, pay, foot, liquidate, meet, pay off, pay up, pony up, quit, recompense, settle, spring (for), standAntonyms repudiate

4 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) discharged the prisoners upon the signing of the peace treaty Synonyms free, disenthrall (also disenthral), emancipate, enfranchise, enlarge, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetterRelated Words bail (out), deliver, parole, ransom, redeem, rescue, save; adrift, disembarrass, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, extricate; unshackleNear Antonyms handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; commit, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up); conquer, enslave, subdue, subjugateAntonyms bind, confine, enchain, fetter, restrain

5 to throw or give off the mighty river discharges its waters into the ocean Synonyms cast, emit, emanate, evolve, exhale, expel, expire [archaic], give out, irradiate, issue, radiate, release, send (out), shoot, throw out, ventRelated Words eliminate, evacuate, excrete, exude, ooze, secrete; eject, erupt, gush, jet, outpour, pour, spew, spout, spray, spurt, squirtNear Antonyms absorb, inhale, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up

6 to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force felt a strong recoil as the rifle discharged Synonyms blast, shoot, fireRelated Words blaze, pepper; plink, potshot, snipe

7 to let go from office, service, or employment 15 people were discharged when the embezzling ring was discovered Synonyms ax (or axe), bounce, can, cashier, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn offRelated Words downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim; boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat; separateNear Antonyms keep; reemploy, rehire; contract, subcontract; recruitAntonyms employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on