discharge */*/

I UK [dɪsˈtʃɑː(r)dʒ] / US [ˈdɪsˌtʃɑrdʒ] / US [dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒ] verb
Word forms "discharge":
present tense I/you/we/they discharge he/she/it discharges present participle discharging past tense discharged past participle discharged

1) [transitive, usually passive] to be officially allowed or forced to leave an institution such as a hospital, a prison, or the army

The child was taken to hospital but was later discharged.

discharge someone from something:

After he was discharged from the army, he had intended to return to the world of teaching.

a) if someone who has been accused of a crime is discharged, they are judged to be not guilty and officially allowed to leave prison or a court of law

Baker was discharged after the evidence against her was found to be flawed.

b) to allow or force someone to leave an official job or position

Judge Richard Groves discharged the jury after it had failed to reach a verdict.

Mr Givens was discharged from the committee and replaced by Mr Benton.

2) [intransitive/transitive] to allow liquid or gas to leave a place, especially when this has harmful effects

Many cities discharge their sewage into the sea without treating it at all.

The mercury had been discharged from a local chemical plant.

3) [transitive] formal to do everything that needs to be done to perform a duty or responsibility

4) [transitive] formal to fire a weapon

5) [transitive] formal to pay what you owe to someone

discharge a debt:

He died owing the bank £10,000, and his widow was unable to discharge the debt.

6) [intransitive/transitive] physics if something discharges electricity, or if electricity is discharged, it flows out of that thing

II UK [ˈdɪstʃɑː(r)dʒ] / US [ˈdɪsˌtʃɑrdʒ] / US [dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒ] noun
Word forms "discharge":
singular discharge plural discharges

1)

a) [countable/uncountable] a situation in which someone is allowed to leave an institution such as a hospital, a prison, or the army

discharge from:

Many patients require ongoing care after discharge from hospital.

Jack was given an early discharge from the army after being severely wounded in battle.

b) a situation in which someone who has been accused of a crime is judged to be not guilty and officially allowed to leave prison or a court of law

See:

conditional discharge

2)

a) [countable/uncountable] liquid or gas that comes out of a place, or the process of coming out into water or the air

discharge from:

The authorities are particularly concerned about discharges from nuclear power stations.

discharge of:

a discharge of oil into the River Tees

b) medical a liquid that comes out from a part of someone's body when they are ill

a vaginal/nasal discharge

3) [uncountable] the act of performing a duty or responsibility

You will be responsible for the efficient discharge of your duties.

4) [singular] formal the act of firing a weapon

5) [singular] formal the payment of money that you owe

6) [countable/uncountable] physics the flow of electricity, for example from a piece of equipment or during a storm