Discharge Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of DISCHARGE

1

[+ object]

:

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

• She's due to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.
• Discharge the prisoners.

2

[+ object]

a

:

to take away the job of (someone)

:

to end the employment of (someone)

• The company illegally discharged [=_fired_] several union organizers.
• We had to discharge several employees last week.

b

:

to end the service of (someone) in a formal or official way

• Thousands of soldiers were discharged after the war.

:

to release (someone) from duty

• The judge discharged the jury.

3

:

to shoot or fire (a weapon)

[+ object]

• The ship discharged missiles against enemy targets.
• discharging a firearm

[no object]

• The gun failed to discharge.

4

[+ object]

:

to allow (someone) to get out of a vehicle

• The bus had stopped to discharge [=_let off_] passengers.

5

a

:

to send out (a liquid, gas, or waste material)

[+ object]

• Smokestacks from the factory discharge [=_emit_] chemicals into the air.
• discharging pollution into a lake
• The wound began to discharge pus.

[no object]

• a river that discharges [=_flows_] into the ocean

b

:

to send out (electricity)

[+ object]

• discharge electricity from a battery

[no object]

• allowing the electricity to discharge safely

6

a

:

to do what is required by (something)

• He vowed to faithfully discharge [=_fulfill_] the duties/responsibilities of his office.
• discharging an obligation

b

:

to pay (a debt)

• They have failed to discharge their debts.

Britannica Dictionary definition of DISCHARGE

1

:

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

[noncount]

• The doctors approved her discharge from the hospital.

[count]

• early hospital discharges

2

a

:

the act of firing or dismissing someone from a job

[noncount]

• Several former employees are suing the company for wrongful discharge.

[count]

• a discharge from employment

b

[count]

:

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

• After his discharge from the military, he went to college to become a teacher.

◊ A dishonorable discharge is given to a soldier who has done something wrong and is forced to leave the military.

• He was court-martialed for improper conduct and left the navy with a dishonorable discharge.

◊ An honorable discharge is given to a soldier who has not done anything wrong and is not being forced to leave.

• He went to college after receiving an honorable discharge from the army.

3

:

the act of firing a weapon

[noncount]

• The damage was caused by accidental discharge of a hunting rifle.

[count]

• a rapid discharge from a gun

4

a

[count]

:

a liquid or gas that flows out of something

• a clear discharge from the nose and eyes
• nasal discharges

b

[noncount]

:

the movement of a liquid or gas from something

• The factory was charged with the illegal discharge of pollution into a stream.
• the discharge of pus from a wound

5

[count]

:

a flow of electricity

• an electrical discharge

6

formal

:

the act of doing what is required or of paying a debt

[noncount]

• the discharge of debts/obligations

[count]

• a discharge of debt