1the action of discharging someone from a hospital or from the armed forces or police:referrals can be discussed before discharge from hospital [count noun]:offending policemen receive a dishonourable discharge
[count noun] an act of releasing someone from the custody or restraint of the law:she was given an absolute discharge after admitting breaking a smoking ban
2the action of discharging a liquid, gas, or other substance:those germs might lead to vaginal discharge
a substance that has been discharged:industrial discharge has turned the river into an open sewer [count noun]:a greeny-yellow nasal discharge
Physics the release of electricity from a charged object:slow discharge of a condenser is fundamental to oscillatory circuits
[count noun] a flow of electricity through air or other gas, especially when accompanied by emission of light:a sizzling discharge between sky and turret
the action of firing a gun or missile:a police permit for discharge of an air gun [count noun]:sounds like discharges of artillery
the action of unloading a ship:freight for discharge
3the action of doing all that is required to fulfil a responsibility or perform a duty:directors must use skill in the discharge of their duties
the payment of a debt:money paid in discharge of a claim
Law the relief of a bankrupt from residual liability:machinery to rehabilitate the bankrupt through the process of discharge
4 Law the cancellation of an order of a court:an application for discharge of a supervision order
ზმნა
Universal
1tell (someone) officially that they can or must leave, in particular:
allow (a patient) to leave hospital because they are judged fit:Mark was taken away in an ambulance but later discharged
dismiss from the armed forces or police:his memory was impaired and he was discharged from the RAF
release from the custody or restraint of the law:she was conditionally discharged for two years at Oxford Crown Court
relieve (a juror or jury) from serving in a case:if the jury cannot agree, it should be discharged
2allow (a liquid, gas, or other substance) to flow out from where it has been confined:industrial plants discharge highly toxic materials into rivers [no object]:the overflow should discharge in an obvious place
(of an orifice or diseased tissue) emit (pus or other liquid):the swelling will eventually break down and discharge pus [no object]:the eyes and nose began to discharge
Physics release or neutralize the electric charge of (an electric field, battery, or other object):the electrostatic field that builds up on a monitor screen can be discharged [no object]:batteries have a tendency to discharge slowly
(of a person) fire (a gun or missile):when you shoot you can discharge as many barrels as you wish
[no object] (of a firearm) be fired:there was a dull thud as the gun discharged
unload (goods or passengers) from a ship:the ferry was discharging passengers [no object]:ninety ships were queuing to discharge
allow (an emotion) to be expressed:he discharged his resentment in the harmless form of memoirs
3do all that is required to perform (a duty) or fulfil (a responsibility):the bank had failed to discharge its supervisory duties
pay off (a debt):the executor must discharge the funeral expenses
release (a party) from a contract or obligation:the insurer is discharged from liability from the day of breach
Law relieve (a bankrupt) of residual liability:first-time bankrupts are discharged automatically after three years
4 Law (of a judge or court) cancel (an order of a court):the court may discharge a care order on the application of the child
cancel (a contract) because of completion or breach:an existing mortgage to be discharged on completion
