release

Noun

release (countable and uncountable, plural releases)

1. The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
   • Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200
2. The distribution, either public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product.
3. Anything recently released or made available (as for sale).
   • The video store advertised that it had all the latest releases.
4. That which is released, untied or let go.
   • They marked the occasion with a release of butterflies.
5. The giving up of a claim, especially a debt.
6. Liberation from pain or suffering.

   Synonyms:

   alleviation, relief, comfort, consolation, ease, liss, respite, solace

7. The process by which a chemical substance is set free.
8. (sound synthesis) The act or manner of ending a sound.
9. (historical) In the block system, a printed card conveying information and instructions to be used at intermediate sidings without telegraphic stations.
10. A catch on a motor-starting rheostat, which automatically releases the rheostat arm and so stops the motor in case of a break in the field circuit.
11. The catch on an electromagnetic circuit breaker for a motor, triggered in the event of an overload.
12. The lever or button on a camera that opens the shutter to allow a photograph to be taken.

Verb (1)

release (third-person singular simple present releases, present participle releasing, simple past and past participle released)

1. (transitive) To let go of; to cease to hold or contain.
   • He released his grasp on the lever.
2. (transitive) To make available to the public.
   • They released the new product later than intended.
3. (transitive) To free or liberate; to set free.
   • He was released after two years in prison.
4. (transitive) To discharge.
   • They released thousands of gallons of water into the river each month.
   • The blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena lunulata has tetrodotoxin, the deadly toxin it also releases in a bite, in their ink but the concentrations and effect in inking are not known.2017 August 9, Mark Carnall, “Why do cephalopods produce ink? And what's ink made of, anyway?”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 Mar 2023
5. (transitive) (of a call) To hang up.
   • If you continue to use abusive language, I will need to release the call.
6. (transitive) To let go, quit (a legal claim); to discharge or relinquish a right to (lands or buildings) by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession.
7. (transitive) To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of.
   • punishments inflicted and released[1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page)
8. (transitive) To set up; to provide with a goalscoring opportunity.
   • With the Gunners far too lightweight in midfield, Mikel Arteta dropped back into a deeper-lying role. This freed Yossi Benayoun to go further forward, a move that helped forge a rare Arsenal chance on 30 minutes when the Israeli released Van Persie, only for the Dutchman's snap-shot to be tipped...2011 September 13, Sam Lyon, “Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 10 Jan 2012
9. To set free a chemical substance.
10. (intransitive) To launch; to come out; to become available.
    • when the game releases
    • the new model will release on ...

Verb (2)

IPA/ɹiːˈliːs/

release (third-person singular simple present releases, present participle releasing, simple past and past participle released)

1. (transitive) To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.