release - Definition | Dictionary definition of release

Definition of release

Verbs

release, as from one's grip

Synonyms:: let go, let go of, relinquish

Antonyms:: hold
have or hold in one's hands or grip; take hold; show more antonyms...

Types:: show 16 types...; hide 16 types...; discharge, muster out
release from military service; deactivate
remove from active military status or reassign; demob, demobilise, demobilize
retire from military service; demobilise, demobilize, inactivate
release from military service or remove from the active list of military service; cannon
fire a cannon; unclasp
release from a clasp; pop
release suddenly; toggle
release by a toggle switch; unhand
remove the hand from; bring out, let out
bring out of a specific state; unleash
release or vent; uncork
release; let loose, loose, unleash
turn loose or free from restraint; unleash
release from a leash; disengage, withdraw
release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles; unlock
set free or release

grant freedom to; free from confinement

Synonyms:: free, liberate, loose, unloose, unloosen

Antonyms:: confine
deprive of freedom; take into confinement; detain; show more antonyms...

Types:: show 6 types...; hide 6 types...; unspell
release from a spell; unchain
make free; bail
release after a security has been paid; run
set animals loose to graze; bail out
free on bail; parole
release a criminal from detention and place him on parole

let (something) fall or spill from a container

Synonyms:: turn

Types:: deflate
release contained air or gas from; throw
throw (a die) out onto a flat surface; shoot
throw dice, as in a crap game

Type of:: channel, channelise, channelize, transfer, transmit, transport
send from one person or place to another

prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

Synonyms:: bring out, issue, publish, put out

Types:: edit
supervise the publication of

Type of:: air, bare, publicise, publicize
make public

eliminate (a substance)

"the plant releases a gas"

Synonyms:: discharge, eject, exhaust, expel

Types:: show 27 types...; hide 27 types...; cough out, cough up, expectorate, spit out, spit up
discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth; cough
exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion; ptyalise, ptyalize, spew, spit, spue
expel or eject (saliva or phlegm or sputum) from the mouth; spit out, splutter, sputter
spit up in an explosive manner; blow
free of obstruction by blowing air through; ejaculate
eject semen; abort
terminate a pregnancy by undergoing an abortion; miscarry
suffer a miscarriage; ovulate
produce and discharge eggs; egest, eliminate, excrete, pass
eliminate from the body; perspire, sudate, sweat
excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin; exudate, exude, ooze, ooze out, transude
release (a liquid) in drops or small quantities; make, make water, micturate, pass water, pee, pee-pee, piddle, piss, puddle, relieve oneself, spend a penny, take a leak, urinate, wee, wee-wee
eliminate urine; urinate
pass after the manner of urine; empty, evacuate, void
excrete or discharge from the body; ca-ca, crap, defecate, make, shit, stool, take a crap, take a shit
have a bowel movement; barf, be sick, cast, cat, chuck, disgorge, honk, puke, purge, regorge, regurgitate, retch, sick, spew, spue, throw up, upchuck, vomit, vomit up
eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth; bleed, hemorrhage, shed blood
lose blood from one's body; flow, menstruate
undergo menstruation; eruct, spew, spew out
eject or send out in large quantities, also metaphorical; fester, maturate, suppurate
ripen and generate pus; breathe, emit, pass off
expel (gases or odors); belch, bubble, burp, eruct
expel gas from the stomach; force out
emit or cause to move with force of effort; emanate, exhale, give forth
give out (breath or an odor); radiate
send out real or metaphoric rays; bubble
form, produce, or emit bubbles

generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids

"release a hormone into the blood stream"

Synonyms:: secrete

Types:: water
secrete or form water, as tears or saliva

Type of:: exudate, exude, ooze, ooze out, transude
release (a liquid) in drops or small quantities

make (information) available for publication

"release the list with the names of the prisoners"

Synonyms:: free

Types:: declassify
lift the restriction on and make available again

Type of:: issue, supply
circulate or distribute or equip with

part with a possession or right

Synonyms:: free, give up, relinquish, resign

Types:: derequisition
release from government control; give, sacrifice
endure the loss of

Type of:: give, hand, pass, pass on, reach, turn over
place into the hands or custody of

release (gas or energy) as a result of a chemical reaction or physical decomposition

Synonyms:: free, liberate

Type of:: bring forth, generate
bring into existence

make (assets) available

"release the holdings in the dictator's bank account"

Synonyms:: free, unblock, unfreeze

Antonyms:: freeze
prohibit the conversion or use of (assets); block, immobilise, immobilize; block
prohibit the conversion or use of (assets); show more antonyms...

Type of:: issue, supply
circulate or distribute or equip with

Nouns

merchandise issued for sale or public showing (especially a record or film)

"a new release from the London Symphony Orchestra"

Type of:: merchandise, product, ware
commodities offered for sale

the act of liberating someone or something

Synonyms:: freeing, liberation

Types:: show 12 types...; hide 12 types...; jail delivery
the use of force to liberate prisoners; deregulating, deregulation
the act of freeing from regulation (especially from governmental regulations); relief
the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged; disentanglement, extrication, unsnarling, untangling
the act of releasing from a snarled or tangled condition; emancipation
freeing someone from the control of another; especially a parent's relinquishing authority and control over a minor child; clearing
the act of freeing from suspicion; purgation, purge, purging
the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge; exoneration, vindication
the act of vindicating or defending against criticism or censure etc.; whitewash
a specious or deceptive clearing that attempts to gloss over failings and defects; manumission
the formal act of freeing from slavery; parole
(law) a conditional release from imprisonment that entitles the person to serve the remainder of the sentence outside the prison as long as the terms of release are complied with; probation
(law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found guilty of a crime is released by the court without imprisonment subject to conditions imposed by the court

Type of:: accomplishment, achievement
the action of accomplishing something

a process that liberates or discharges something

"there was a sudden release of oxygen"

"the release of iodine from the thyroid gland"

Types:: show 7 types...; hide 7 types...; emission
the release of electrons from parent atoms; photoemission
an emission of photoelectrons (especially from a metallic surface); field emission
the emission of electrons that are stripped from parent atoms by a high electric field; photoelectric emission
the release or absorption of quanta above a certain energy level; radiation, radioactivity
the spontaneous emission of a stream of particles or electromagnetic rays in nuclear decay; secondary emission
the emission of electrons from a surface that is bombarded by higher energy primary electrons; thermal emission, thermionic emission
the emission of electrons from very hot substances

Type of:: action, activity, natural action, natural process
a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)

an announcement distributed to members of the press in order to supplement or replace an oral presentation

Synonyms:: handout, press release

Type of:: announcement, promulgation
a public statement containing information about an event that has happened or is going to happen

the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)

Synonyms:: discharge, dismissal, dismission, firing, liberation, sack, sacking

Types:: show 8 types...; hide 8 types...; superannuation
the act of discharging someone because of age (especially to cause someone to retire from service on a pension); conge, congee
an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal; removal
dismissal from office; purge
an abrupt or sudden removal of a person or group from an organization or place; deactivation, inactivation
breaking up a military unit (by transfers or discharges); honorable discharge
a discharge from the armed forces with a commendable record; dishonorable discharge
a discharge from the armed forces for a grave offense (as sabotage or espionage or cowardice or murder); Section Eight
a discharge from the US Army based on unfitness or character traits deemed undesirable

Type of:: conclusion, ending, termination
the act of ending something

euphemistic expressions for death

Synonyms:: departure, exit, expiration, going, loss, passing

Type of:: death, decease, expiry
the event of dying or departure from life

a legal document evidencing the discharge of a debt or obligation

Synonyms:: acquittance

Type of:: instrument, legal document, legal instrument, official document
(law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right

a device that when pressed will release part of a mechanism

Synonyms:: button

Type of:: device
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

activity that frees or expresses creative energy or emotion

Synonyms:: outlet, vent

Type of:: activity
any specific behavior

the act of allowing a fluid to escape

Synonyms:: spill, spillage

Type of:: flow, stream
the act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression

a formal written statement of relinquishment

Synonyms:: discharge, waiver

Types:: show 5 types...; hide 5 types...; exemption, granting immunity, immunity
an act exempting someone; fix
an exemption granted after influence (e.g., money) is brought to bear; official immunity
personal immunity accorded to a public official from liability to anyone injured by actions that are the consequence of exerting official authority; sovereign immunity
an exemption that precludes bringing a suit against the sovereign government without the government's consent; testimonial immunity, use immunity
an exemption that displaces the privilege against self-incrimination; neither compelled testimony or any fruits of it can be used against the witness who therefore can no longer fear self-incrimination