release
/rɪˈliːs
/verb [with object]
1Allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free: the government announced that the prisoners would be released...
- He releases himself and falls free of the burning aircraft.
- But questions remain about whether the big cat escaped or was somehow released.
- On August 10, 1974, he was expecting to be given the news that he was to be released from solitary confinement.
Synonyms
free, set free, let go, allow to leave, set/let/turn loose, let out, liberate, set at liberty, deliver, rescue, ransom, emancipate
historical manumit
untie, undo, loose, let go, unhand, unloose, unbind, unchain, unleash, unfetter, unclasp, unshackle, unmanacle, extricate, unhitch, unbridle, detach, disentangle
2Allow (something) to move, act, or flow freely: she released his arm and pushed him aside growth hormone is released into the blood during sleep...
- Fortunately for Jonny and myself the dark looks faded off Nicky and Val's faces and they allowed Josh to release them and move onto Jonny without making a scene.
- Word after word flowing from her, releasing the emotions she never allowed herself to show, because showing emotions was dangerous.
- When blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin to move glucose out of the blood into the muscle where it is stored for energy.
2.1Remove restrictions or obligations from (someone or something) so that they become available for other activity: the strategy would release forces for service in other areas...
- You are released from restrictions and limitations, as old fears do not trouble you any more.
- You are released from tensions and restrictions when you make important decisions.
- If he declines, you may ask and publish his reasons, but they cannot release you of your obligation to correct your error in publishing his misleading words.
Synonyms
make available, free, free up;
contribute, put at someone's disposal, supply, furnish, provide;
deploy
2.2Remove (part of a machine or appliance) from a fixed position, allowing something else to move or function: he released the handbrake...
- He shifted the lever into neutral and released the hand brake, then cranked the steering wheel as far to the right as he could.
- All it takes to get this car moving like a breeze is to release the hand brake, turn the knob on the dashboard to forward mode and press the accelerator.
- To smell burning rubber while driving a car is a sign that you forgot to release the hand brake.
2.3Allow (something) to return to its resting position by ceasing to put pressure on it: press the cap down and release...
- Reverse the motion to release the weight and return to the start.
- The scene appears at this position after you release the mouse button.
- It's really a joystick that jumps back to the home position when you release it.
3Allow (information) to be generally available: no details about the talks were released...
- The film is due to feature both local and international actors, but no further information has been released.
- Police released the newest information yesterday, after investigators unearthed fresh clues about the suspect's whereabouts.
- The first set of products and services are expected to be available mid-2002, when further information will be released.
Synonyms
make public, make known, bring to public notice/attention, issue, break, announce, declare, report, post, reveal, divulge, disclose, publish, publicize, print, broadcast, air, transmit, put out, circulate, communicate, impart, disseminate, distribute, spread, propagate, purvey
3.1Make (a film, recording, or other product) available to the public: they released a flurry of great singles...
- The vast majority of independently produced films never get released.
- Production was completed in late autumn and the film was released in September 1968.
- As far as I know, the studio is not releasing the film into theaters domestically.
Synonyms
launch, put on the market, market, put on sale, offer for sale, bring out, unveil, present, make available, distribute
4 Law Remit or discharge (a debt): the amounts which later become due are consequent on the debt that is being released...
- Mr. Libenstein further argues that if he is found personally liable, the liability was released by his discharge from bankruptcy.
- It follows that a debt may only be released by an agreement for valuable consideration or by an agreement under seal.
- If it is said that the debt should have been released on top of the other payments that should have been made then that might be right.
Synonyms
let off, excuse, exempt, discharge, deliver;
clear, exculpate, absolve, acquit, exonerate
4.1Surrender (a right): a parent released and assigned a right to income...
- I want a declaration from the Baron, witnessed by the Judiciar, that he releases all right of ownership.
- The question is, can the federal courts come into the state of Alabama and threaten fines to release our inalienable rights?
- Mr. Lenz paid to be released from his spousal support obligations by paying a portion of the royalties to his wife.
4.2Make over (property or money) to another: compensation for the cost of rebuilding is only released when work begins...
- In certain of those cases, the holdback funds were released in contravention of that agreement, and damages were incurred and calculable because of that breach.
- After your death, title companies may not let property be sold, and banks may not release money until they know for certain who your heirs are.
- With lottery scams, people are told they have won the lottery, but then told they must pay a fee before the money can be released.
noun [mass noun]
1The action or process of releasing or being released: a campaign by the prisoner’s mother resulted in his release...
- On the 42nd hour, I spoke with a court-appointed lawyer who told me the courts were deliberately slowing the process of our release.
- She called on the government to speed up the process of release for hundreds of political prisoners still in jail.
- The process of gaining early release created a complicated and intriguing paper trail.
Synonyms
freeing, liberation, deliverance, ransom, emancipation;
freedom, liberty
historical manumission
1.1 [count noun] A handle or catch that releases part of a mechanism.A photographer can point his camera at a subject and press the release down....
- Next, point the camera at the other extreme and once again half press the release.
2The action of making a film, recording, or other product available to the public: the movie will be on release from Christmas...
- The too objective script leaves audiences not knowing whether Madeleine was a murderess or not, and this fact contributed to the film's failure on release.
- They are ready for talks provided the distributors lift the ban on release of films on or before February 7.
- It has only just gone on release in the US and does not reach UK cinemas until January.
2.1 [count noun] A film or other product made available to the public: his current album release has topped the charts for six months...
- The sound mix is perhaps not as aggressive as most feature film releases, but this is a TV series, after all.
- Picture and sound are typical for current film releases - there's really nothing much to say about either.
- It featured mostly new releases, all films that in one way or another relied on narratives that explored people who were either on the move or had ended up in faraway places.
Synonyms
CD, disc, record, single, album;
video, film;
book
version, edition, issue, model, mark, draft, form, impression, publication
3 Law The action of releasing property, money, or a right to another.I have been advised by my bank manager that any release of money needs to be authorised by the solicitors who initiated the freezing injunction....
- The third benefit for Mrs Smith was her husband's release of property claims.
- There was no deed of release, no terms of settlement; your client just accepted that money, and, presumably there is some rule of court that deals with that.
3.1 [count noun] A document effecting a release of property, money, etc.He has not complied with the court order for production of the notes and records nor has he signed a release to permit Ms. N.L. direct access to the documents....
- For that reason I have asked DH, Attorney here in the US, to prepare a release and waiver for each client which must be executed prior to any return of capital.
- His attorney recalled that he gave him a release in letter format from the promissory note indebtedness in exchange for receiving five Fieldway shares.
Derivatives
releasable
- Less weight equals less fatigue on the ascent, and releasable skis are safer in avalanches because they don't act as anchors pulling victims down.
- A lot of stuff, any of the information that is releasable from the investigation has been released at this point.
- At nerve terminals, stimulus-evoked calcium entry triggers transmitter release through rapid, regulated exocytosis of readily releasable synaptic vesicles.
releasee
- The question was how can the public school system assist recent releasees from these facilities.
- Recent information on prison releasees shows that 66% of state prisoners were released to counties that contain the central city of a metropolitan area.
- Therefore, the graduated sanctions element of the drug court program may be as effective with pretrial releasees, regardless of whether or not it is coupled with drug treatment.
releaser
- The endless food spots all over Karachi can also prove to be tension releasers.
- Why not get some fragrance releasers into your space ready to set your senses racing once the weather warms up again?
- Scientists now suggest there are four kinds of human pheromones - primers, releasers, modulators and ‘signalers’ that provide information to the recipient without directly altering behavior.
releasor
- The Solicitor-General took a deed of release along with him on the meeting on Monday night and it included what he says commonly appears, very often at the request of releasors in releases where the Crown is the releasee.
- The release from all claims for trespass in Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England v - North Eastern Railway did not release the defendants from trespass claims of which the releasor was unaware but of which the defendants knew.
- Some courts are willing to recognize a release under some circumstances for various types of activities and to bar a suit by the releasor.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French reles (noun), relesser (verb), from Latin relaxare 'stretch out again, slacken' (see relax).