discharge

dis|charge1 [ `dıs,tʃardʒ, dıs`tʃardʒ ] verb **

▸ 1 allow/force someone to leave

▸ 2 let liquid/gas leave

▸ 3 perform a duty

▸ 4 fire a weapon

▸ 5 pay what you owe

▸ 6 when electricity flows

1. ) transitive usually passive to be officially allowed or forced to leave an institution such as a hospital, a prison, or the army:

The child was taken to the hospital but was later discharged.

discharge someone from something: After he was discharged from the army, he had intended to return to the world of teaching.

a ) if someone who has been accused of a crime is discharged, they are judged to be not guilty and officially allowed to leave prison or a court of law:

Baker was discharged after the evidence against her was found to be flawed.

b ) to allow or force someone to leave an official job or position:

Judge Richard Groves discharged the jury after it had reached a verdict.

Mr. Givens was discharged from the committee and replaced by Mr. Benton.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to allow liquid or gas to leave a place, especially when this has harmful effects:

Many cities discharge their sewage into the ocean without treating it at all.

The mercury had been discharged from a local chemical plant.

3. ) transitive FORMAL to do everything that needs to be done to perform a duty or responsibility

4. ) transitive FORMAL to fire a weapon

5. ) transitive FORMAL to pay what you owe to someone:

discharge a debt: He died owing the bank $10,000, and his widow was unable to discharge the debt.

6. ) intransitive or transitive SCIENCE if something discharges electricity or if it is discharged, it flows out of that thing

discharge

dis|charge 2 [ `dıs,tʃardʒ, dıs`tʃa:dʒ ] noun **

▸ 1 when someone may leave

▸ 2 liquid/gas that leaves

▸ 3 carrying out of duty

▸ 4 act of firing weapon

▸ 5 payment of money owed

▸ 6 flow of electricity

1. ) count or uncount a situation in which someone is allowed to leave an institution such as a hospital, a prison, or the army:

discharge from: Many patients require continued care after discharge from the hospital.

Jack was given an early discharge from the army after being severely wounded in battle.

a ) a situation in which someone who has been accused of a crime is judged to be not guilty and officially allowed to leave prison or a court of law

2. ) count or uncount liquid or gas that comes out of a place, or the process of coming out into water or the air:

discharge from: The authorities are particularly concerned about discharges from nuclear power plants.

discharge of: a discharge of oil into the Missouri River

a ) a liquid that comes out from a part of someone's body when they are sick:

a vaginal/nasal discharge

3. ) uncount the act of performing a duty or responsibility:

You will be responsible for the efficient discharge of your duties.

4. ) singular FORMAL the act of firing a weapon

5. ) singular FORMAL the payment of money that you owe

6. ) count or uncount SCIENCE the flow of electricity, for example from a piece of equipment or during a storm