release

Borrowed from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher).

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈliːs/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːs

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).
   • 2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200:

     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.

2. (software) The distribution of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product; the distribution can be either public or private.
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.
6. Liberation from pain or suffering.
7. (biochemistry) The process by which a chemical substance is set free.
8. (phonetics, sound synthesis) The act or manner of ending a sound.
9. (railways, historical) In the block system, a printed card conveying information and instructions to be used at intermediate sidings without telegraphic stations.
10. A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required.
    1. 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.
    2. The catch on an electromagnetic circuit breaker for a motor, triggered in the event of an overload.

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

1. To let go (of); to cease to hold or contain.

   He released his grasp on the lever.

2. To make available to the public.

   They released the new product later than intended.

3. To free or liberate; to set free.

   He was released after two years in prison.

4. To discharge.

   They released thousands of gallons of water into the river each month.

5. (telephony) (of a call) To hang up.

   If you continue to use abusive language, I will need to release the call.

6. (law) To let go, as a legal claim; to discharge or relinquish a right to, as lands or tenements, by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; to quit.
7. To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of.

   to release an ordinance

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Hooker to this entry?)

8. (soccer) To set up; to provide with a goal-scoring opportunity
   • 2011 September 13, Sam Lyon, “Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal”, in BBC:

     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 around the post.

9. (biochemistry) To set free a chemical substance.

• hold

re- +‎ lease

• IPA^(key): /ɹiːˈliːs/
• Rhymes: -iːs

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.